Despite the profit erosion over the years, a good number of non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) spent a huge amount of money on celebrating 'Mujib Borsho', sources said.
As many as 13 NBFIs spent over Tk 8.32 million in the last six fiscal years till FY2023-24.
The Bangladesh Bank has provided the information to the Financial Institutions Division (FID) on the government's instruction.
The information revealed that during the past Sheikh Hasina-led government, some 13 government and non-government NBFIs, out of 35, made the allocation to celebrate Mujib Borsho.
The remaining 22 NBFIs spent a little amount of money on holding the event in the FYs.
The IPDC Finance Ltd topped the list of money spending on the 'Mujib Borsho' celebrations. It spent Tk 3.2 million alone.
Over Tk 1.3 million, Tk 1.15 million, Tk 0.99 million, Tk 0.777 million and Tk 0.660 million were spent by the Lanka Bangla PLC, Islamic finance, MIDAS financing, IDLC finance and Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) respectively.
Of the fiscal years, the NBFIs spent most of funds in 2018-19 and 2023-24 FYs. They spent more than Tk 6.0 million in the two fiscal years.
The interim government has asked different state-agencies, including scheduled banks, to provide information about the money spent on the celebration of Mujib Borsho.
An FID high official said, "After compiling all the amounts, the volume of spending would be presented to the countrymen that how much funds of different agencies were spent in the name of Mujib Borsho."
"We're receiving the data now. We expect to receive all expenditure shortly on the issue."
An NBFI source said that on the past government office's instruction, NBFIs were forced to spend their money on Mujib Borsho.
Nobody spent the money willingly.
Sheikh Hasina's government declared the period from March 17, 2020 to March 26, 2021 as Mujib Borsho, marking the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Mujib Borsho was celebrated in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world on the initiative of the UNESCO.
[email protected]
