DHAKA: The Election Commission has asked all candidates, either winner or loser, of the recent city corporation elections to submit their poll expenditure details within May 29, said sources concerned.

The sources added that if any candidate missed the deadline he/she may face maximum seven years in prison or cancellation of his/her candidature for violating electoral code of conduct.

EC deputy secretary Shamsul Alam told banglanews that the commission published the circular of the polls winners on Thursday (April 29).

Since publishing the circular, all candidates (winning or defeated) must submit their polls expenditure returns to the returning officers within next 30 days. So that, they need to submit it within May 29, the secretary added.

Shamsul went on saying that, meanwhile, letters have been sent to candidates giving warning on the issues. More letters will also be sent, if necessary, he added.

According to City Corporation (Electoral Code of Conduct), 2010, each mayoral candidate can personally spend maximum Tk. 1.5 lakh for a territory with 20 lakhs voters while maximum Tk. 2 lakh for a territory with over 20 lakhs voters.

On the other hand, maximum poll spending is Tk. 30 lakh for a territory with below 20 lakhs voters and maximum Tk 50 lakh for a territory with over 20 lakhs voters.

For a councilor, the poll spending was maximum Tk 1.1 lakh for a territory with less than 15,000 voters, maximum Tk 2.2 lakh for a territory with voters ranging from 15,001 to 30,000, maximum Tk 4.3 lakh for a territory with voters ranging from 30,001 to 50,000 voters, and maximum Tk 6.5 lakh for a territory with more than 50,000 voters.

In the April 28 polls, a total of 48 people vied in mayor posts while 1,132 contended in councilor posts in three city corporations of Dhaka and Chittagong.

The EC published circular on April 29, announcing the three winning mayors and 179 councilors of three city corporations.

BDST: 1054 HRS, MAY 02, 2015
HB/RS