Dhaka, Jan. 29 -- The cost of conducting the parliamentary polls, scheduled for next month, has been estimated at $254 million-nearly $82 million more than the last election held two years ago.

Nearly 130 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the election to be held on Feb 12. Enabling the people to cast their votes will require 43,000 polling centres and approximately 250,000 polling booths.

These booths will include secret ballot marking places. Expenses have also been increased for arranging IT-supported postal voting.

The election will also require the services of 69 returning officers, 600 assistant returning officers, and 2,000 more individuals, including executive and judicial magistrates, as well as members...