Jara nets Tk 23 lakh through crowdfunding in 14 hours
Election campaigning in Dhaka-9 took an unusual turn as National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Dr Tasnim Jara raised Tk 23 lakh in just 14 hours through public crowdfunding, signalling a growing shift toward citizen-funded politics ahead of the national polls.
Dr Jara, the NCP’s senior joint member secretary and candidate for the Dhaka-9 constituency, sought public support for her election expenses by sharing her personal bKash number and bank account details, inviting donors to reach out via WhatsApp with questions or suggestions.
Confirming the development in a post from her verified Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon, December 23, she wrote, “In just 14 hours, you have donated Tk 23 lakh – more than half of our total fundraising target. We are overwhelmed by your incredible response and love.”
She said the campaign’s total fundraising target stands at Tk 46,93,580, adding that donations would be stopped once the target is reached.
Dr Jara also informed supporters that her bKash account had temporarily hit its transaction limit early Tuesday, urging those facing difficulties to donate through the campaign’s bank account instead.
Emphasising transparency, she said the campaign had deliberately avoided cash donations. “All funds are being collected through bKash and banks, ensuring a verifiable record controlled by Bangladesh Bank—not by our team,” she noted.
She further said regular updates on the amount raised and the sources of funds would be shared publicly, and all relevant documents would be submitted to the Election Commission for verification. Details of campaign expenditures by sector would also be disclosed, she added.
Inviting public oversight, Dr Jara wrote, “If you have any further suggestions to strengthen transparency, please let us know.”
The rapid fundraising has sparked discussion in political circles, with analysts viewing it as a sign of increasing voter engagement and a potential challenge to traditional, money-heavy election campaigns.