The government has cancelled the budget allocation for celebrating Mujib Year for the fiscal year 2024-2025.
This decision was made during a meeting of the Advisory Council held at the Cabinet Division on Wednesday, November 20. The Chief Adviser’s press wing shared this information following the meeting.
During the discussion on various issues, the Advisory Council was informed that a total of Tk 1,261.5 crore was spent across multiple ministries, divisions, subordinate agencies, the Election Commission Secretariat, the Armed Forces Division, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Parliament, the Office of the Auditor General and Comptroller of Bangladesh, and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh during the fiscal years 2018-19 to 2023-24 for the celebration of Mujib Year.
As a result, the budget allocated for this purpose in the fiscal year 2024-25 has now been cancelled.
On November 6, the cabinet called for scrutinising public funds spent during Mujib Barsha.
The Chief Adviser’s Office also decided to document and assess expenditures amid growing concerns over waste.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam them informed that the government will compile a detailed report on how resources were allocated during the Mujib year, noting that significant funds were spent on various commemorative projects, some of which sparked controversy.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy, Shafiqul explained, "There was a frenzy around Mujib Year. Now, we’re committed to documenting what kind of work was done and how much money was potentially wasted in the name of these celebrations."
"In the name of Mujib Year, funds were used on murals and statues, some of which came from government coffers, while private institutions were reportedly pressured to contribute as well," he said. "This documentation is necessary to understand the extent of spending."
Shafiqul referred to unverified reports claiming that over Tk 4,000 crore was spent on creating 10,000 statues, noting that these figures underscore the importance of an official review.
Additionally, he mentioned that Tk 117 crore was spent on two murals on Padma Bridge, exemplifying what some view as excessive spending.