ZCZC
BSS-23
CPD-ELECTION
CPD for transparency in candidates’ election expenditures
DHAKA, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS) – The Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) today underscored the need for bringing transparency in the election expenditures of the candidates to ensure the participation of honest and competent persons in the polls.
“It is now a big issue whether the election expenditure is becoming a barrier for democracy. We should look into whether the election expenditure can be adjusted with the government expenditures in future,” said CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya.
He was speaking at a press briefing to release a report on the “State of the Bangladesh Economy and Upcoming National Elections: Priorities for Electoral Debates” at the BRAC Centre Inn Auditorium in the city.
He said National Board of Revenue (NBR) should come forward to examine the authenticity of the declaration on the election expenditures.
CPD’s Distinguished Fellow Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun, Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem and Senior Research Fellow Towfiqul Islam Khan, among others were present on the occasion.
Debapriya said Bangladesh’s overall development is good, but discrimination has also increased. “We will have to reduce the discrimination by continuing the trend of growth in the coming days,” he added.
For continuing the development, he said, Bangladesh will have to provide more focus on investment and employment opportunities as well as income.
The distinguished fellow said the government should take necessary steps to ensure quality education and provide improved health services to all people.
Regarding the banking sector and capital market, he said, all political partitas in the national polls should include the banking sector and the capital market in their election manifesto amid at continuing the country’s development.
Mustafizur Rahman urged all the parties to give guidelines in their election manifesto for increasing revenue earnings as the country tax-GDP ratio is very low.
BSS/KUC/GA/1755 hrs