21 percent rise in allocation for home ministry in 2016-17

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has proposed a 21 percent rise in the allocation for the home ministry in 2016-17 fiscal.

In the Tk 3.41 trillion national budget presented in Parliament on Thursday, he has set aside Tk 192.76 billion, or 5.7 percent of the total budget, for the home ministry.

The allocation for the ministry was Tk 123.92 billion in the outgoing 2015-16 fiscal year.

It was revised up to Tk 159.69 billion or around 6 percent of the total budget.

In monetary terms, the allocation for the key ministry has seen a rise of Tk 68.84 billion from the previously proposed budget and Tk 33.07 billion from the revised budget or 20.7 percent.

In his speech, the finance minister said there was no alternative to skilled and strong law-enforcing agencies with a modern mindset in order to safeguard the people’s lives and properties and to create an environment favourable to unhindered trade and economic activities.

“The government is working to this end.”

He added that the work to create an additional 50,000 posts and their appointment to police was under way.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has, for the first time, hired 100 women members in the current fiscal year. “More female members will be added gradually,” he said.

“Moreover, our efforts to improve the capacity and efficiency of army, navy, air force and border guards as well as to modernise them will continue.”