‘Lobbyists hired spending $7m for anti-election propaganda’

Some lobbyists were hired spending $7 million to spread propaganda against the 12th parliamentary election of Bangladesh held on January 7.

Former US Congressman Jim Bates has informed this to Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Md Tazul Islam.

Md Tazul Islam disclosed the information while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

Earlier, Jim Bates, who came to Bangladesh to observe the general election, called on the minister at his office.

“They believe that some lobbying firms have been recruited, spending $7 million to conduct propaganda against the election,” Tazul said.

Asked about who hired the lobbyists, the minister said, “They did not mention it specifically and I did not ask either.”