Swapon alleges widespread irregularities in 2022 World Cup broadcast deal

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Sunday alleged widespread corruption in Bangladesh's acquisition of the broadcasting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, claiming BTV had spent Tk 980 million on the rights under the previous government through intermediary deals, with transactions totalling around Tk 1400 million, reports UNB.
Speaking at a press conference at the Press Information Department conference room, he said the current government has instead purchased the media rights directly from FIFA, recovering almost the entire cost through sub-licensing arrangements.
"The government's actual shortfall now stands at only Tk 4-5 crore, (40-50 million) and we are trying to bridge even that through ongoing revenue-sharing discussions," the minister said.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had instructed the authorities to ensure that football fans across the country could watch the World Cup without placing an excessive financial burden on the state.
Following that directive, Swapon said, the government negotiated directly with FIFA and acquired the media rights for US$3.85 million.
He said most of the expenditure has already been recovered by sub-licensing the broadcasting rights to four local companies. "The government's actual financial shortfall has been reduced to only Tk 4-5 crore. Discussions are still underway with the sub-licence holders over revenue-sharing arrangements," he said, expressing hope that if those negotiations are successful, even this remaining shortfall will be eliminated.
Referring to the 2022 World Cup, the minister alleged that a Singapore-based company had initially purchased the FIFA broadcasting rights before a Bangladeshi company, Toma Construction, acquired and sold the rights to BTV for Tk 980 million.
He claimed the satellite broadcasting rights were also sold for Tk 220 million and the digital rights for Tk 170 million to private entities, bringing the total transactions to around Tk 1400 million.
"FIFA received only $3.2 million. The remaining money went to intermediaries," Swapon alleged.
He said a comparison between the 2022 and 2026 World Cup broadcasting arrangements clearly demonstrates how public money had been wasted previously.
Responding to another question, the minister said the government will discuss with the Bangladesh Football Federation the possibility of bringing the Brazil and Argentina national football teams to Bangladesh for a friendly match.