In a significant development occurring just forty-eight hours prior to the national polls, a substantial financial transaction totalling 40 million BDT has been suspended in Natore. The intervention took place on Tuesday afternoon following a formal grievance lodged by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for the Natore-2 (Sadar and Naldanga) constituency, Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu.
The Anatomy of the Intervention
The funds in question were reportedly transferred from Dhaka via the Sonali Bank Natore branch to a specific account held at the Islami Bank Natore branch. Upon receiving intelligence regarding this sudden influx of capital, Mr Talukdar Dulu approached the District Returning Officer, asserting that the timing and magnitude of the transfer suggested illicit electoral motives.
Following a swift deliberation between the Returning Officer and senior bank executives, the transaction was officially frozen pending further verification.
Divergent Perspectives on the Funds
The suspension has ignited a debate between political stakeholders and banking officials. Mr Talukdar Dulu, speaking from his regional office on Tuesday afternoon, maintained that withdrawing such a vast sum on the eve of an election is highly irregular. “There is a palpable risk that these funds were earmarked for the prohibited practice of vote-buying,” he informed the press. “To safeguard the integrity of the election, halting this transaction was an essential precautionary measure.”
Conversely, representatives from the banking sector have characterised the incident as a routine operational requirement. Rezaul Karim, an Assistant Vice President (AVP) at Islami Bank’s Natore branch, argued that for an institution of their scale, 40 million BDT does not constitute an extraordinary sum. He clarified that because banks remain closed during the polling period, the funds were requested to ensure that Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) remain sufficiently solvent for public use.
| Entity / Official | Role | Stance / Action Taken |
| Ruhul Quddus Talukdar | BNP Candidate (Natore-2) | Alleged funds were for “vote-buying”; filed formal complaint. |
| Asma Shahin | District Returning Officer | Ordered the suspension following the candidate’s grievance. |
| Rezaul Karim | AVP, Islami Bank | Stated funds were for routine ATM replenishment. |
| Ujjal Kumar | AGM, Sonali Bank | Confirmed the freeze following directives from senior management. |
Regulatory Oversight and Transparency
Asma Shahin, the Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer for Natore, confirmed that the administration acted decisively to address the candidate’s concerns. This freeze reflects the heightened state of vigilance currently maintained by the Election Commission regarding large-scale cash movements, which are often scrutinised as potential catalysts for electoral malpractice in the final hours of campaigning.
The funds will remain inaccessible until the banking authorities and the District Administration can conclusively verify the ultimate beneficiary and the legitimate purpose of the capital. In an environment of increased political sensitivity, this incident underscores the rigorous oversight being applied to the financial sector to ensure a transparent democratic process.