The total budget for Election Commission increased by Tk 868 crore in the election year.

The proposed budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year (FY) placed at parliament shows that the development budget for the Election Commission decreased by Tk 467 crore, from the budget for the outgoing FY 2022-23.

But the operating budget for the constitutional body increased by Tk 1,357 crore in the proposed FY 2023-24 budget.

Overall budget of the EC stood at Tk 2,406 crore in the upcoming financial years from Tk 1,538 crore in the outgoing fiscal.

The 12th national polls is likely to be held in late December this year or early January next year.

The budget for the 11th national polls in December 2018 was Tk 700 crore.

EC sources said the commission has asked the government for Tk 3,954 crore to meet the expenses of the upcoming parliamentary and local government elections in meeting with officials of finance ministry in February this year.