Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami spent over Tk 4.49 crore in the 13th parliamentary election, while Jatiya Party reported spending only Tk 5 lakh, according to official election expenditure statements submitted to the Election Commission (EC).

A total of 50 political parties participated in the February 12 election, but some 25 parties have submitted their election statements to the EC as of Wednesday.

The remaining parties, including ruling BNP, have to submit the expense statements to the EC.

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Jamaat submitted its election expenditure statement signed by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Tuesday, showing a total expenditure of Tk 4,49,47,972 in the election.

Of the total amount, Tk 4 crore was distributed as donations to 225 candidates, averaging around Tk 1.78 lakh per candidate.

Jamaat reported expenses for designing and printing election manifestos, organising press conferences, hospitality, transportation of election materials, tours by central leaders and advertising.

It spent Tk 20,90,827 on election campaigning, Tk 8,700 on transport, Tk 14,17,599 on public rallies and tours, Tk 2,85,902 on staff expenses and Tk 9,44,944 on accommodation and administrative costs. An additional Tk 2 lakh was listed under miscellaneous expenses.

Jatiya Party submitted its election expenditure report signed by its chairman GM Qauder to the EC on Wednesday.

According to the statement, submitted by Jatiya Party Additional Secretary General Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan, the party spent only Tk 5 lakh in the election though 196 Jatiya Party candidates took part in the polls.

But the party did not allocate any funds directly to candidates for campaign activities.

Its polls campaign expenses stood at Tk 3.25 lakh, while Tk 1.15 lakh was spent on public rallies and Tk 65,000 on staff expenses.

The party also informed the EC that all election-related expenditures were made through an account at Prime Bank PLC’s Banani branch, which currently holds a balance of Tk 38,500.

A political party shall not spend an amount that exceeding Tk 4.5 crore as election expenses in case of fielding more than 200 candidates, while Tk 3 crore incase of 101-200 candidates, Tk 1.5 crore in case of 51-100 candidates, and Tk 75 lakh in case of 1-50 candidates, according to the Article 44CC of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.

Every political party nominating any candidate for election shall submit an election expenditure statement within 90 days after the election to the Election Commission for its scrutiny, as per the Article 44CCC of the same law.