High Court has ordered a full investigation into allegations of corruption and irregularities in projects undertaken during Mujib Year, including the government-funded biographical film Mujib: The Making of a Nation.
The directive, issued Tuesday, came in response to a public interest writ petition filed by rights platform Gono Adalat, which alleged widespread financial irregularities, mismanagement, and lack of transparency in the Mujib Year celebrations led by multiple ministries and agencies.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury issued the order, asking authorities to submit detailed explanations of project expenditures, procurement processes, and the roles of public officials involved in the initiative. The court also directed the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) to carry out a comprehensive audit of all projects implemented under the programme.
According to the petition, at least 16 government ministries and departments—including the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s Office—executed events, media campaigns, and procurements worth crores of taka as part of the centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The petition claimed many of these activities were marred by inflated budgets, politically motivated appointments, and irregular contract awards.
One of the major concerns highlighted was the production of Mujib: The Making of a Nation, a high-profile biopic co-produced by Bangladesh and India. Petitioners alleged that large sums were spent without transparency, with questionable overseas travel, consultancy fees, and subcontracting practices. In some cases, expenses were reportedly undocumented or lacked approval from competent authorities.
The petition also cited instances where the same events or promotional activities were funded by multiple agencies, leading to redundant expenditure. It alleged that key individuals were appointed to critical roles despite lacking experience or qualifications, resulting in poor implementation and financial loss to the state.
Gono Adalat submitted a list of 17 individuals and 10 public officials allegedly involved in the irregularities. The court instructed the Ministry of Public Administration to identify those who were responsible for oversight of the projects and to submit relevant records.
The court warned that if misappropriation of public funds is found, legal action will be taken. It emphasised that commemorative events honouring the nation’s founding leader must be held to the highest standards of accountability.
Advocate Mostafa Mohsin Montu, coordinator of Gono Adalat, appeared on behalf of the petitioners. The court is expected to set a date for the next hearing once preliminary audit reports are submitted.