DHAKA, Nov 24, 2025 (BSS) – Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said that there is nothing to worry about the budget for holding the upcoming general election as it can be arranged if the Bangladesh Election Commission needs something urgently.

Even after the announcement of the election schedule, any essential emergency expenditure may still be accommodated. “There is nothing for the Finance Ministry to worry about. If the Election Commission needs something urgently, that can be arranged,” he said.

The finance adviser was responding to the queries of reporters after chairing a meeting on the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat here today.

He hinted that the government would have to revise the election budget as holding the national election and the referendum on the same day could increase expenses, particularly in security and manpower deployment.

“When we first received their proposal, the referendum was not there. Naturally, holding both on the same day will involve additional costs. You will need more manpower, more security, more logistics,” he said.

The finance adviser said the Election Commission did not initially include the referendum in their expenditure projection.

He mentioned that additional expenditure may also arise from the ongoing enrolment of Bangladeshi expatriate voters at embassies abroad. “Foreign missions are doing preparatory work. Officers are collecting information, and overtime costs will be involved. The Foreign Ministry may request funds. We will provide support,” he said.

Asked about the Chief Election Commissioner’s recent comment that holding a referendum alongside a national election will be a major challenge for the Commission, Dr Salehuddin said the matter lies outside his jurisdiction. However, he stressed that holding the two votes on the same day is more practical.

“This is a decision from the government. Doing it on two different days would require the entire mobilization twice-returning officers, teachers, bank officials and everyone. It’s not easy. Many countries conduct referendums and national polls on the same day. Logistically, holding both together is better,” he said.

On a separate question regarding the use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies during the election, Dr Salehuddin confirmed that the government has made a policy decision and procurement would proceed under the respective security agencies.

“The purchase committee has taken a decision. We have instructed the relevant agencies to procure the equipment using their allocated budget in a transparent manner,” he said.

He declined to disclose the potential quantity of body cameras. “It is not my responsibility to decide the number. This is under the Home Ministry and its agencies. The Election Commission will only specify the sensitive locations where cameras are required. The police, BGB, RAB and other security agencies will procure and use them. There is nothing to worry about,” he added.

Responding to media speculation that around 40,000 cameras may be purchased, he said, “I will not comment on numbers. What is necessary will be done, and we will try to keep expenses reasonable.”

The adviser also pointed out that the Finance Division has recently canceled a proposal for purchasing 100 new vehicles intended as replacements for outgoing ministers.

“Sometimes wrong messages go out. The vehicles were replacement units, not additional ones. Still, we canceled the plan because it is not necessary at this moment,” he said.

The adviser also said that the Finance Division has already begun internal revisions. “We are reviewing the budget. We have given all ministries a deadline to submit their final estimates, because in December we will revise the national budget and by January we will keep the election budget ready for the next government. Everything remains open,” he added.

Market shows stabilization following decisions to permit rice imports: Salehuddin

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said that the market has shown partial stabilization following recent decisions to permit rice imports.

“The government’s recent initiative to import non-Basmati rice aims to stabilise prices,” he said.

The finance adviser was responding to the queries of reporters after chairing a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat today.

He, however, said the government remains cautious, as early signs of price escalation to some extent have reappeared. “To prevent instability, the government has approved a new proposal to import an additional volume of non-Basmati rice,”

He went on saying, “We want to ensure that rice prices do not rise further. For that reason, we have decided to import more non-Basmati rice. This is important for maintaining stability,” he said.

The adviser noted that while the local administration, including deputy commissioners and upazila-level officials, are tasked with monitoring market activities, the effectiveness of such monitoring is limited when influential traders act collectively or manipulate the market.

He pointed out that Bangladesh often experiences sudden surges in prices of essential commodities, even when there is no genuine shortage. “In many countries, prices do not rise this way. There are valid economic reasons behind price changes abroad. Here, we often see enough stock available in the market, yet prices abruptly jump in certain locations. This indicates coordinated action among sections of traders.”

He explained that although the month of Agrahayan-associated with the seasonal availability of newly harvested paddy-has just passed, rice prices have not eased to the extent normally expected.

Dr Salehuddin reiterated that business leaders also bear responsibility and must act with integrity. “Our traders must be more responsible. Without ethical discipline among business groups, no regulatory system can function properly.”

He said that the continued upward pressure on rice prices, even after the completion of the traditional harvesting period, is rooted not only in supply-side issues but also in weaknesses in market distribution and monitoring that cannot be fully addressed by the civil administration alone.

When asked if the price surge was the result of a syndicate, Dr Salehuddin noted that the situation was more complex than a single factor and involved “behavioural dynamics” within the supply chain.

According to him, rice prices depend primarily on supply, but the distribution network plays an equally important role.

“Rice prices are not determined only by how much paddy is produced. Distribution channels-mainly the wholesale and retail stages-have a tremendous influence on how the price behaves in the market,” he said.

Officials present at the meeting also noted that rice import decisions are being reviewed regularly in light of global prices, domestic stock levels and trends in mill-gate supply. They said the government is prepared to take further measures if required to prevent volatility during the ongoing season.

For now, they said, the government is banking on timely imports and stricter monitoring to navigate the challenging early-winter market.