Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s income was almost double that of BNP and its expenditure nearly five times higher in 2024, according to the financial statements submitted to the Election Commission.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP have recently submitted their respective financial statements of the 2024 calendar year.

According to the statements, Jamaat reported an income of Tk 28,97,00,299 (almost Tk 29 crore) and an expenditure of Tk 23,73,38,177 (Tk 23 crore 73 lakh) last year. 

BNP, on the other hand, showed a total income of Tk 15,65,94,842 and an expenditure of Tk 4,80,04,823 in the same year.

BNP said its main sources of income were members’ monthly subscriptions, sales of books and publications, bank interest, and one-time donations.

Jamaat’s statement, submitted to the EC, shows that the party earned Tk 16,56,42,162 from subscriptions by workers and members, and Tk 37,87,149 from the executive committee, advisory council, or other subscription categories. It also received Tk 11,86,38,619 in donations from various people and organisations. Sales of the party’s newspapers, periodicals, and books brought in Tk 9,11,290, while income from other sectors contributed Tk 7,21,079. 

The party also carried forward Tk 10,49,45,101 from the previous year.

On the expenditure side, Jamaat spent Tk 6,57,67,873 on salaries, allowances, and bonuses for its workers; Tk 2,687,495 on housing and administrative costs; Tk 2,46,018 on utilities, including electricity, water, and gas; Tk 8,44,526 on postal, telephone, internet, courier services and newspaper bills; and Tk 10,95,962 on hospitality.

It further reported spending Tk 2,70,06,563 on publicity and transport; Tk 1,27,01,776 on travel; Tk 19,38,705 on public rallies, meetings, and indoor gatherings; Tk 11,05,15,420 in donations to candidates; Tk 32,76,850 on special religious programmes; and Tk 1,12,56,989 under miscellaneous heads, bringing total expenditure to Tk 23,73,38,177.

The statement, signed by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, also mentioned that the party maintains no bank account.

According to the law, all registered political parties are required to submit the previous year’s financial reports to the EC by July 31 each year.