SAD among three organisations to receive Tk 37mn from BB, ABB for refendum funding

SAD has received Tk 10 million, while SHUJAN and Debate for Democracy received Tk 25.2 million and Tk 2.08 million each

A total of Tk 37.28 million was disbursed from the banking sector, including Bangladesh Bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund and the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB), to fund the campaign for the referendum held alongside the general election.

The beneficiaries of these funds include the Students Against Discrimination Foundation, established by leaders of the Students Movement Against Discrimination (SAD); the non-governmental organisation Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN); and Debate for Democracy, an NGO led by Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron.

The financing was sourced from two primary streams: the central bank’s CSR fund and the private bank executives' association.

The Students Against Discrimination Foundation received Tk 10 million from Bangladesh Bank’s CSR fund.

SHUJAN was allocated Tk 25.2 million from the ABB fund, while Debate for Democracy received Tk 2.08 million from the same source.

The issue of SAD receiving a multi-million taka grant became public on Apr 23.

During a recent press conference at Dhaka University’s Madhu’s Canteen, former SAD spokesperson Cynthia Jahin Ayesha, alleged that the central committee had initially claimed the campaign would be self-funded.

She later accused top leaders of concealing the receipt of state funds through a newly formed foundation.

Rifat Rashid, who resigned as president of the movement to join the National Citizen Party (NCP), later clarified in a Facebook Live session that they sought a foundation-based structure to resolve legal complexities in receiving the funds.

Records show the Students Against Discrimination Foundation was registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) on Jan 21, 2026 -- just three weeks before the referendum.

Arief Hossain Khan, spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank, confirmed the Tk 10 million allocation, noting the foundation had initially requested Tk 128.95 million for an online referendum campaign, a concert, and a nationwide youth engagement event.

ABB Chairman Mashrur Arefin told bdnews24.com that the funds provided to SHUJAN and Debate for Democracy were disbursed following instructions from the then-governor Ahsan H Mansur.

"The governor called ABB leaders to his office and asked the banks to provide a large sum for the ‘Yes’ vote campaign," Arefin said.

He explained that since banks could not bypass their boards to use CSR funds for such purposes, the money was instead channelled through the ABB's own fund following two meetings at the central bank.

Both organisations have reportedly submitted preliminary expenditure reports.

SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, who was also the head of the Election System Reform Commission, defended the funding, stating that the money was used transparently to raise public awareness.

"We have provided a preliminary account, and a full audit is currently underway," Majumdar said.

"This is bank money, which means it is public money. It has been spent for the state and public welfare."