TIB: Disclose defence budget in current JS session

Appreciating the Finance Minister’s assurance that detailed information about the country’s defence expenditure would be disclosed in the future, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has demanded the wide disclosure of it during the current parliament session.

The TIB has issued a statement in this regard on Tuesday.

In the statement, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said: “The TIB has long been urging to establish the transparency and accountability of defence sector. Finance Minister’s speech has made us hopeful. But the matter should not be kept pending for the future.”

“The detail of defence budget should immediately made public in order to increase the public support for defence expenditure,” he added.

He also thanked those who placed the issue in the parliament session on June 9.

In his statement, Iftekharuzzaman urged the government to initiate a culture of regular scrutiny of defence budget and expenditure at the meetings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence Ministry.

He also emphasised on amending laws related to defence purchases by ensuring ample parliamentary reviews in order to curb corruption in the sector.

Referring to the TI-UK Government Defence Anti-corruption Index 2012, he said: “The score of Bangladesh in all the seven indicators related to defence budget was disappointing. Specially, both the people and even the Standing Committee on Defence Ministry have no idea about the rationale of defence purchases. They remain totally ignorant in this regard.”

He further said: “It is the demand of time to introduce corruption prevention provision in laws related to defence purchases by establishing the culture of making information open to all.”

Wrapping up the general discussion on the supplementary budget for fiscal 2013-14, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday said: “There will be statements in details on the budgetary allocation in defence sector.”