Minister alleges 140 crore Taka corruption in 2022 World Cup broadcast rights

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan on Sunday alleged that around 140 crore Taka was lost to irregularities and corruption in the acquisition of broadcasting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He said the cost of broadcasting the 2026 tournament had been reduced to almost zero through direct negotiations with FIFA.

Speaking at a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID), the minister said the government had dismantled the intermediary system used in 2022. Instead, it purchased the 2026 World Cup media rights directly from FIFA.

Swapan alleged that during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, a Singapore-based company bought the media rights from FIFA for $3.2 million. It later brought in Toma Construction, a Bangladeshi private company, as an intermediary. He claimed the company had no involvement in the media sector.

According to the minister, the previous government later bought the broadcasting rights for Bangladesh Television (BTV) from the intermediary for 98 crore Taka. Private broadcasters paid another 39 crore Taka for sublicensing rights. He said the total transaction amounted to about 140 crore Taka.

Swapan alleged that the arrangement enabled a private company to benefit at the expense of public funds.

For the 2026 World Cup, he said BTV purchased the media rights directly from FIFA for $3.85 million (about 47 crore Taka) after negotiations, without involving intermediaries.

He said the government subsequently recovered almost the entire cost by sublicensing the rights to four domestic broadcasters, leaving only a shortfall of 4-5 crore Taka, which he said is expected to be covered through advertising and revenue-sharing arrangements.

"The cost will effectively come down to nearly zero," the minister said.

He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had instructed the ministry to ensure football fans could watch the tournament without wasting taxpayers' money.

Swapan also thanked officials of BTV, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), sports journalists and others for assisting in the negotiations.

The minister said the government now plans to make future World Cup broadcasting not only cost-neutral but potentially profitable through improved technology and commercial strategies.

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