DHAKA, Nov 6, 2025 (BSS) – The National Consensus Commission (NCC) today refuted claims that the commission spent Taka 83 crore on hospitality, stating that its total expenditure was Taka 1.71 crore, of which Taka 45 lakh was spent on hospitality.

“A very recent campaign by a certain quarter has falsely alleged that the National Consensus Commission spent Taka 83 crore on hospitality. Such statements are entirely fabricated and false,” said a statement issued by Chief Adviser’s Press Wing tonight.

As it is evident that this was a planned propaganda, as those who spread the misinformation, neither sought the Commission’s official statement nor verified the authenticity of the information from relevant authorities, it said.

To prevent public confusion, the NCC clarified that since its inception on February 15, 2025, the total budget for fiscal years 2024–25 and 2025–26 was Taka 7,23,31,026. Of this, Taka 63 lakh was allocated for hospitality.

As of October 31, 2025, however, the commission spent a total of Taka 1,71,31,126, which was only 23.46 percent of the total allocation, it said, adding, Taka 45,77,685 was spent on hospitality.

The statement said that the majority of the expenditure on hospitality was incurred during meetings and discussions with political parties and other meetings of the commission.

During the three-phase discussions with political parties, the commission arranged entertainment for political party representatives, their associates, journalists and media workers, commission officials and employees, and security personnel, it said, adding, in the first phase (March 20-May 19, 2025), 44 meetings with political parties were held while Taka 4,91,000 was spent on hospitality.

In the second phase, 23 meetings were held at the Foreign Service Academy with representatives of 30 political parties while Taka 28,83,100 was spent, the statement said, adding, as these meetings lasted from morning till night, the commission had to arrange breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the participants. The average cost per day was less than Taka 120,000, it said.

In the third phase, the statement said, seven meetings involving representatives from 30 political parties were held while Taka 7,08,600 was spent.

Apart from these, the commission held 50 of its own meetings, many of which were on holidays and lasted for the whole day, it said, adding, these meeting incurred Taka 1,05,520.

Taka 2,00,340 was spent in 13 programmes, including meetings with political parties, civil society members, professionals and three press conferences, the statement said, adding, Taka 30,960 was spent on hospitality during 14 meetings with experts.

It is mentionable that the experts didn't take any allowance or honorarium, it said.

Additionally, Taka 2 lakh was spent over nine months on hosting guests, including foreign diplomats, representatives of domestic and international organisations, political leaders, editors, and journalists, the statement added.

"The above statement on the expenditure clearly shows that the claim of Taka 83 crore expenditure is not only a lie but also a concerted and planned attempt to undermine the National Consensus Commission and its activities," it said.

Noting that throughout its tenure, the commission maintained maximum transparency, the statement said the reports published in the mass media every day are proof of this.

Journalists were freely allowed access to the commission office while the Vice-Chairman and members of the commission regularly shared information through press conferences and briefings, it said, adding, notably, for the first time in Bangladesh's history, discussions between political parties were broadcast live on television.

The commission hoped that the unscrupulous quarters that are spreading this malicious propaganda would immediately admit their faults and seek apology, the statement said, adding, the commission received the cooperation of responsible media during its tenure and hoped that the media would continue their responsible approach to protect the people from confusion by disseminating accurate information on this issue.