The government on Sunday refused to accept Tk 3 crore as donation of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited [IBBL] for “Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla”, an event to set world record for singing of national anthem by 300,000 people, on 43rd Independence Day at the National Parade Ground.The Ministry of Finance issued a statement in this regard after the Ministry of Cultural Affairs categorically declined to accept the donated money by the IBBL, saying it will go against the sentiment of common people if the money is received from a controversial bank.Joint Secretary of Finance Ministry Arijit Chowdhury [Bank and Financial Institutions] confirmed this news. The Finance Ministry’s statement, however, said: If the IBBL wants, it can donate the fund for the ongoing World T20 Tournament.Meanwhile, the government’s move came at a time when different quarters, including the pro-liberation forces, criticised the government for taking the donation from the bank, which they said, is linked to war criminals and allegedly involved in terror financing. Especially, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Tuesday harshly criticized the Cultural Ministry for taking financial support from IBBL for the mega event- ‘Sonar Bangla by Millions’. Inu also asked the Cultural Ministry to return the IBBL money. The “IBBL donation” issue created a controversy when Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor categorically denied taking any donation from it. “No donation has been taken from IBBL for the March 26 programme. No cheque was accepted from the IBBL. The national anthem is part of our soul. We did not accept any kind of such aid, which will hurt people’s emotions. The emotion of countrymen is involved with the anthem,” Noor said.But turning down the Minister’s claim, the IBBL on the same evening issued a press release saying its vice chairman Mustafa Anwar had handed over a cheque for Tk 3 crore to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 14 as donation for the event.
