Dhaka: Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon announced today that the successful broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 was achieved without utilizing any government revenue. "Our goal is not only to broadcast games for free in the next World Cup but also to generate major profits for the government by tapping into the massive advertising market," Swapon stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Information Minister made these remarks during the 'FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast and Thanksgiving' event at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room. The event saw State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque presenting floral greetings and letters of thanks to Information Minister Swapon and State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury, on behalf of his ministry. Also in attendance were Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Md Shah Alam and Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed.
Swapon attributed the zero-revenue expenditure to the strategic guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who ensured that football fans could watch the tournament despite the government's austerity policies. He emphasized that this achievement was made possible by constructing an alternative structural framework as directed by the Prime Minister, stating, "Therefore, this achievement belongs to the Prime Minister."
The Information Minister also expressed gratitude to various stakeholders, including the State Minister for Youth and Sports, the State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting, the Director General of Bangladesh Television, and the Bangladesh Football Federation.
Reflecting on the positive changes in the country's sports sector, Swapon remarked, "Over the past few months, unprecedented enthusiasm has built up across the sports arena under the leadership of our State Minister for Youth and Sports, who is himself a former star player." He highlighted the importance of engaging youth in sports and entertainment to build a drug-free society and develop skilled manpower for the future.
Looking ahead, Swapon outlined future broadcasting plans, stating, "This time, we cleared the hurdle of broadcasting a global sports event at zero cost. For the next World Cup, we will look beyond just zero-cost broadcasting; our goal is to turn it into a highly profitable event through strategic advertising revenue."