Dhaka, Jan. 7 -- The banners will soon rise, rallies will fill the streets and campaign slogans will echo across constituencies -- but behind the theatre of democracy lies a quieter, more contentious question: who pays for the vote?

As Bangladesh prepares for the parliamentary polls, the Election Commission (EC) has set firm limits on how much candidates and political parties may spend -- and how transparently they must account for every taka.

Yet the scale of the contest, the rising cost of campaigning and the emergence of crowdfunding as a political tool have reopened concerns over whether financial oversight can truly keep pace.

Under election law, candidates must disclose not only how much they spend but also where the money comes ...