Staff Reporter :
The National Consensus Commission (NCC) has strongly denied allegations that it spent Tk 83 crore on hospitality, describing the claim as “entirely fabricated” and part of a “planned propaganda” campaign aimed at undermining the credibility of the commission.
In a statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Thursday night, the NCC clarified that its total expenditure since inception was Tk 1.71 crore, of which Tk 45.77 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,” the statement said.
According to the clarification, the NCC’s total approved budget for fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26 was Tk 7,23,31,026, with Tk 63 lakh allocated for hospitality.
As of October 31, 2025, the commission spent only 23.46 percent of that amount.
The commission explained that most of its hospitality expenses were incurred during consultations and dialogue sessions with political parties, journalists, professionals, and civil society representatives.
It detailed that during the first phase of political dialogue, held between March 20 and May 19 this year, the NCC organized 44 meetings with various parties at a cost of Tk 4.91 lakh.
In the second phase, 23 meetings were held at the Foreign Service Academy with representatives of 30 political parties, during which Tk 28.83 lakh was spent.
“As these meetings lasted from morning till night, the commission had to arrange breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the participants,” the statement explained, noting that the average cost per day was below Tk 120,000.
The third phase of dialogue involved seven meetings, costing Tk 7.08 lakh. In addition, the NCC held 50 internal meetings-many on weekends and holidays-that accounted for Tk 1.05 lakh in hospitality costs.
Further expenditures included Tk 2 lakh for 13 outreach events and press conferences, Tk 30,960 for 14 meetings with experts, and another Tk 2 lakh over nine months for hosting diplomats, political leaders, journalists, and representatives from international organizations.
The statement emphasized that experts who participated in the commission’s consultations did not receive any allowances or honoraria.
“The above statement on the expenditure clearly shows that the claim of Tk 83 crore expenditure is not only a lie but also a concerted and planned attempt to undermine the National Consensus Commission and its activities,” the NCC said.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, the commission pointed out that journalists had open access to its premises, while its vice-chairman and members regularly briefed the press. It also highlighted that, for the first time in Bangladesh’s history, political dialogue sessions were broadcast live on television.
The NCC urged those responsible for spreading the false information to publicly retract their claims and apologize, while expressing appreciation for responsible media outlets that have continued to verify facts before publication. “The commission hopes that the media will continue their responsible approach to protect the people from confusion by disseminating accurate information on this issue,” the statement concluded.
