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SANGSAD BHABAN, June 11, 2026 (BSS) - The government has proposed an allocation of Tk 4,400.79 crore for the Election Commission (EC) in the national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 to conduct elections and continue voter registration, national identity card and institutional development activities.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury made the proposal while placing the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad here today.

Of the total allocation, Tk 3,643.34 crore has been proposed for operational expenditure and Tk 757.45 crore for development expenditure.

The EC was allocated Tk 2,956 crore in the original budget for FY2025-26. 

The allocation was later revised upward to Tk 4,345.66 crore.

The finance minister said the Election Commission is scheduled to conduct elections to two city corporations, four municipalities, 10 upazila parishads and 10 union parishads in FY2026-27, alongside parliamentary and local government by-elections.

The proposed allocation will also support the celebration of National Voters' Day at both central and field levels, updating the photo-based voter list and preparing, printing and distributing paper-laminated national identity cards, and issuance of smart NID cards. 

In addition, the EC will continue citizen registration for individuals below the age of 18, undertake audit and documentation of the NID system, facilitate registration and smart NID services for Bangladeshi citizens living abroad, and establish an NID mini archive and library.

The commission will also implement measures to strengthen the security and efficiency of the NID system, including the installation of cyber sensor systems to connect the NID database with the country's critical information infrastructure platform and the establishment of a functional disaster recovery site at the Regional Election Office and Regional Server Station in Cumilla.

The minister said partner services for NID verification and authentication would continue, while efforts to strengthen the Election Commission institutionally and modernise election management through greater use of information and communication technology (ICT) would also be carried forward.