|
|
The defence ministry received Tk 8, 383 crore and home ministry Tk 5,880 crore.
According to our sources inside the Bangladesh government the increased budgets will accommodate procurement of modern hardware as well as mitigate personnel shortages in various undermanned units to meet the "Forces Goal 2020".
While most of the defence budget will go towards the large Army the Bangladesh Navy and Air Force have been given special importance in the 2009-2010 fiscal year's budget.
The Bangladesh Army will receive new main battle tanks, get funds to upgrade existing main battle tanks, procure anti-tank guided missiles, surface to air missiles, self-propelled artillery, sniper rifles, engineering equipment, modern communications equipment amongst other critical hardware.
The Bangladesh Navy will procure state-of the-art frigates, corvettes, missile equipped fast attack craft, offshore patrol vessels, a fleet oil tanker, a modern hydrographical survey vessel, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft, combat datalinks, anti-ship missiles and anti-aircraft missiles.
Air power of the Bangladesh Air Force will also be increased with the procurement of modern advanced jet trainers, surveillance radars, network centric warfare electronics and air defence missiles though the procurement of fighter aircraft has not been finalised.
In terms of percentage of GDP Bangladesh spends the lowest on defence in the region. The defence budget of India is 2.38 percent of its GDP, 3.2 percent in Pakistan, 6 percent in Sri Lanka, 3.3 percent in Myanmar, and 1.7 percent in Nepal while it is only 1.1 percent in Bangladesh.
For more information see the various topics in the BMF Forum for exclusive accurate and timely updates.
|
