The Election Commission (EC) has issued a gazette notification significantly raising the security deposit and campaign expenditure limits for candidates in Union Parishad (UP) elections. Incorporated into the newly published Union Parishad (Election Conduct) Rules, 2026, the amended guidelines introduce stringent measures covering candidate eligibility, financial disclosures, voting procedures, and code-of-conduct enforcement.
Under the updated rules, the security deposit for UP chairman candidates has been increased fivefold from Tk 5,000 to Tk 25,000, while the deposit for general member candidates has been raised from Tk 1,000 to Tk 5,000. Additionally, the threshold for forfeiture of the security deposit has been heightened: candidates must now secure at least 15 percent of the total valid votes cast to avoid forfeiture, up from the previous 12.5 percent threshold.
The maximum allowable campaign expenditure has been set at Tk 10 lakh for chairman candidates and Tk 2 lakh for member candidates. Chairman candidates are now required to maintain a separate scheduled bank account for all election-related expenses, with any payment exceeding Tk 20,000 mandatory by cheque. Furthermore, chairman candidates must submit affidavits detailing local and foreign assets alongside income tax return documents.
The Election Commission has also strengthened its direct oversight powers. The EC is now authorized to initiate immediate investigations into code-of-conduct violations based on reports or records, and holds the power to cancel a candidate’s nomination if allegations are substantiated. In instances of severe voting manipulation, intimidation, or violence, the Commission can suspend or invalidate polling center results and order fresh elections.
