Salman F Rahman, Prime Minister`s Private Industry and Investment Adviser, has emerged as the top spender on individual-level Facebook advertisements in Bangladesh, reports Dhaka Tribune.
He is followed closely by State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
This information is detailed in Facebook`s Ad Library report, which covers advertising activity on the platform from September 2022 to July 25 of this year.
Both Salman and Palak have allocated significant budgets to their personal Facebook pages.
According to the report, there has been a noticeable increase in ad spending on certain pages recently, with many focusing on controversial and critical topics.
Among the top 10 pages, Nagad ranks first in ad spending.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) holds the seventh spot, while the BNP Media Cell is ninth.
The ruling Awami League`s page is positioned lower at 13th.
The report reveals that Nagad has 136 advertisements with a total expenditure of $37,430.
Salman F Rahman has 707 ads with a spend of $26,975 (Tk32 lakh aprox.), and Zunaid Ahmed Palak has 491 ads costing $26,863 (almost same as Salman).
Other notable pages in the top list include Press Xpress, Rupganjer Kotha, Bhalor Pothe, and Panjeree Publications Ltd.
Except for Panjeree Publications Ltd, established in 2011, the remaining pages were created between 2018 and 2022. Their recent establishment has led to significant ad spending to enhance their profiles, resulting in a high follower count despite their relative obscurity.
Ad spending is a key strategy for increasing brand visibility, engaging audiences, and generating leads, which in turn helps in growing page followings.
Politicians have also been increasingly investing in Facebook ads.
Notable figures include lawmakers Mahmud Hasan Ripon from Gaibandha-5, Salma Islam from Women Seat-49, and MA Razzak Khan.
Political parties in the country are also paying more attention to Facebook advertising.
Analysis indicates an average expenditure of around $100 per post boost, with most funds allocated to Dhaka and Chittagong regions, while Barisal and Rangpur divisions receive the least.
$1=Tk118 (aprox.)