A report by the newspaper Amar Desh claims that during Bangladesh’s 2018 national election—widely referred to as the 'night vote' due to alleged irregularities—the then-ruling Awami League created an illicit fund of about Tk 8,000 crore to finance election manipulation. The money was reportedly collected through extortion, fake loans, and tender manipulation from businesses and banks. According to the report, Tk 3,500 crore was distributed among law enforcement and intelligence officials as incentives to ensure control over the election process, while Tk 5,000 crore was allegedly embezzled by four influential figures, including Sheikh Rehana, Salman F Rahman, H.T. Imam, and S. Alam. The report further alleges that senior police and administrative officials received large sums to facilitate vote rigging, with a sophisticated distribution network ensuring the funds reached various police units across the country. The claims, based on unnamed investigative sources, have not been independently verified.