In a move that challenges the long-standing culture of “money muscle” in Bangladeshi politics, Tasnim Jara, the Senior Joint Member Secretary of the NCP, has announced that her campaign for the Dhaka-9 (Khilgaon, Basabo, Manda) constituency will be funded entirely through transparent public donations.
Taking to social media, Tasnim Jara issued a bold critique of the current electoral landscape, where candidates often bypass legal spending limits. While the Election Commission (EC) mandates a maximum expenditure of 25 lakh BDT or 10 BDT per voter, Tasnim Jara pointed out the “open secret” that many candidates spend between 20 to 50 crore BDT to secure a seat.
Breaking the Cycle of Corruption
Tasnim Jara argued that the journey to Parliament for most politicians begins with a “legal breach and a lie,” as they report the 25 lakh BDT limit to the EC while spending astronomical sums behind the scenes.
“When election costs exceed 10 or 20 crore BDT, it becomes ‘mandatory’ for the winners to engage in extortion and tender-manipulation to recover their investment,” Tasnim Jara stated. “This is how politics is hijacked from the common people and handed over to a few syndicates.”
Vowing to stay within the legal framework, Tasnim Jara confirmed that her calculated expenditure limit for the Dhaka-9 seat stands at 4,693,580 BDT. She pledged not to spend a single Taka beyond this authorized amount.
A Call for Public Support
To maintain this integrity, Tasnim Jara has turned to the citizens of her constituency and the wider public for financial support. She has opened dedicated, new bank and mobile banking (bKash) accounts specifically for the campaign.
“I am asking for this money from you because I refuse to practice the politics of dishonesty,” she said.
Promising a new standard of accountability, Tasnim Jara committed to making every transaction public. She assured donors that every Taka received and spent would be documented with evidence and shared transparently with the voters.
Building a ‘New Bangladesh’
Addressing skeptics who claim a national election cannot be contested on such a lean budget, Tasnim Jara remained firm, stating that there is no other way to build a “New Bangladesh.”
By relying on small-scale public contributions rather than wealthy patrons or personal fortunes, Tasnim Jara aims to return the power of the legislature to the people of Khilgaon, Basabo, and Manda, ensuring that her primary loyalty remains with the voters rather than financial syndicates.
