The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has come under scrutiny after approving nominations of candidates in four parliamentary constituencies in Chattogram who admitted exceeding the legally prescribed election spending limits. Despite the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 2025 amendment empowering the EC to act against such violations, returning officer Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah declared the nominations valid. The law allows a maximum expenditure of 10 taka per voter, but candidates in constituencies including Chattogram-6, 7, 13, and 15 reported higher amounts in their affidavits.

Legal experts stated that exceeding the spending limit renders an affidavit defective and should not be accepted without EC approval. Chittagong University’s Professor Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam said the incident shows the EC failed its first major test under the revised RPO, reflecting administrative weakness and lack of discipline. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed acknowledged that overspending clearly violates the RPO and that verifying expense reports was the responsibility of returning officers.

Analysts warned that ignoring such admissions of legal breaches could set a dangerous precedent, undermining financial fairness, transparency, and public trust in future elections.