Says Finance Minister: Sheikh Hasina’s food expense estimated at Tk 35 crore annually

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has presented the expenditure report for the celebration of "Mujib Year" in Parliament. He said a total of 982 crore 91 lakh 74 thousand taka was spent under this Mujib Year celebration projects and proograms during the regime of the fallen government.

This fund was utilized to implement various programs at the district and upazila levels. Pictures of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were displayed, and pedestals were constructed. Additionally, bronze, copper, and marble statues were installed in various government offices, and digital billboards were set up for the national countdown. The Finance Minister also told the Parliament that 35 crore taka was spent on the food expenses of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a single year.

The Finance Minister disclosed this information on Sunday in response to a question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Mahbubur Rahman Belal. The question-and-answer session was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud pointed out that out of 62 ministries and divisions, the expenditure was channeled through 43 ministries and divisions. Among them, the Local Government Division spent the highest amount, totaling 283 crore 15 lakh taka. The Ministry of Railways spent 206 crore 73 lakh 71 thousand taka. The Cabinet Division spent 140 crore 45 lakh 50 thousand taka, and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works spent 133 crore 3 lakh 20 thousand taka.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs spent 47 crore 66 lakh 56 thousand taka. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs spent 26 crore 26 lakh 41 thousand taka. The Ministry of Defence spent 24 crore 30 lakh 43 thousand taka. The Road Transport and Highways Division spent 23 crore 20 thousand taka, and the Information and Communication Technology Division spent 20 crore 49 lakh 20 thousand taka.

In response to a supplementary question by Mahbubur Rahman, the Finance Minister said, "No decision has been made yet regarding an audit or investigation into the Mujib Year expenditures. Apart from Mujib Year, there were many other expenditure heads during the AL government tenure."

He added, "The government is verifying those accounts in phases. Future decisions will be made based on this verification process."
Sheikh Hasina’s Annual Food Cost Was 35 Crore Taka

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury compared the expenditures of the current Prime Minister with those of the former Prime Minister. He stated, "This is just the expenditure for Mujib Year. Beyond this, 35 crore taka was spent on the former Prime Minister’s food expenses alone in a single year. Such expenditures are not limited to just one sector; there are similar expenses in many other sectors as well."

In response to a question from independent Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana, the Finance Minister asserted, "The government's legal actions against those who looted public money and laundered it abroad will continue. There will be no compromise in this regard."