Armed Forces Division seeks Tk118cr to carry out pandemic duty countrywide

The Armed Forces Division (AFD) has asked the government for Tk118 crore for the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force personnel working countrywide to curb Covid-19 spread.

The Finance Division previously allocated Tk92 crore as the AFD wrote to it stating an expenditure of Tk210 crore. The Finance Division also asked the AFD to adjust and manage the rest of the expenses from the forces' own funds.

However, in a recent response the AFD said adjustment of the expenses at the end of the current fiscal year is not possible.

The recent letter sent to Finance Division Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder on May 23 was signed by Squadron Leader Arham Jahin Majumder on behalf of the principal staff officer.

It says the Armed Forces Division (AFD) has spent nearly Tk210 crore so far for the armed forces personnel deployed countrywide to curb the coronavirus spread.

The armed forces personnel have been working to ensure social distancing, home quarantine and institutional quarantine across the country in aid to the civil service power since March 24.

The letter read, "The AFD needs Tk50.88 crore for daily payment, Tk118.73 crore for contingency and Tk42.09 crore for fuel. The Finance Division on May 5 gave an of allocation of Tk92.98 crore for daily payment and fuel costs in response to a letter from the Armed Forces Division."

"The Finance Division also asked the AFD to adjust the contingency expenditures of Tk118.73 crore with the own budget of the three forces and the relevant inter-services institutions," it added.

The letter said, "But the armed forces and inter-services institutions cannot adjust the expenditures as they have already returned their surpluses. Moreover, the forces are unable to manage the amount at the end of the current fiscal year."