BanglaFact, a fact check, media research and analysis team of Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB), has detected that claim that the National Consensus Commission spent Tk 83 crore is false, and the “food bill” posts and photo cards circulating on social media are disinformation.
In its report published today, the fact checking body said the commission’s total budget was only Tk 7 crore, of which only 23% was used, and the rest amount was returned, according to official sources.
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haidar told BanglaFact that the total allocation for the Consensus Commission was Tk 7 crore, not Tk 83 crore. Of that, around 23% was spent, and the rest was returned to the government treasury. He said the expenses covered security, transportation, meals, and administrative costs.
During NEWS 24’s recent talk show Janatantra Ganatantra, teacher Mosharraf Ahmed Thakur made an unsubstantiated comment claiming that Tk 83 crore had been spent by the Consensus Commission.
Mosharraf Ahmed’s baseless claim was further distorted and circulated by the Awami propaganda page “Ajker Kontho” and Sheikh Hasina’s former deputy press secretary Ashraful Alam Khokon.
Similarly, on Global Television’s talk show, Mosharraf Ahmed Thakur was seen addressing Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz, saying: “You spent Tk 83 crore in nine months. Why did you flee after spending Tk 83 crore?”
Despite this, Mosharraf Ahmed Thakur’s false figure was further distorted by Ashraful Alam Khokon, who labeled it as a “food bill” and posted a breakdown of supposed monthly food costs.
The Facebook page “Ajker Kontho” made a similar “analysis,” which spread widely online. Later, the page even posted a calculation of the supposed hourly food expenses.
However on August 8, when a journalist asked about the commission’s spending, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haidar clarified that the commission itself did not directly spend any money.
The Consensus Commission operated under the Chief Adviser’s Office, receiving secretarial support from the Law Ministry.
Therefore, the claim that the Consensus Commission spent Tk 83 crore is false, and the “food bill” posts and photo cards circulating on social media are disinformation.
