Defence spending increased by 4,141C

The Ministry of Defence has been allocated Tk42,315 crore in the proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which is Tk4,141 crore more than the Tk38,174 crore it received in the revised budget in the last financial year.

In addition, the proposed separate allocation for the Armed Forces Division is Tk46 crore, up from Tk36 crore in the last revised budget.

According to the sector-wise resource distribution, including subsidies and incentives, the defence ministry gets 5.3% of the total proposed budget.

Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader, who is also general secretary of the ruling Awami League, said the budget was based on his party’s election pledges. 

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali presented the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year amounting to Tk797,000 crore (Tk7.97 trillion) in parliament on Thursday.

This marked his maiden budget unveiling and the first budget after the reelection of the Awami League government in January.

Defence pledges

In the election manifesto of the Awami League, released before the 12th general election in 2024, the party said it had initiated the Forces Goal 2030 program taking into consideration the National Defence Policy, 1974 formulated by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “Guided by this, the efficiency and discipline of the defence forces will improve, and their efficient management will continue.”

The Awami League pledged that its government would continue the policy of keeping the armed forces free from the influence of politics. 

It said it would undertake new programs for the welfare of officers of all ranks in the armed forces. 

In alignment with the Forces Goal 2030, three corps are being formed to strengthen the country's defence system and expand the Bangladesh Army.

Additionally, four new cantonments have been established in Sylhet, Ramu (Cox's Bazar), Barisal and Mithamoin (Kishoreganj).

The Bangladesh Navy, with government support, has intensified security and surveillance to protect marine resources and prevent accidents, smuggling, piracy and other destructive activities in the maritime area.

Moreover, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, under the defence ministry, has introduced the BMD Weather App for regional weather updates and the Aquaculture App in a bid to increase fish production.