The Finance Division yesterday gave consent to the release of Tk 20.8cr from the police's own food fund to provide blockade and hartal duty policemen daily allowances to purchase snacks.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday approved the Home Minister's proposal for quick disbursement of the fund.
According to the Home Ministry proposal, the vast geographic span of patrols and longer duty hours amid the blockade and hartal programmes have made it impossible for authorities to keep the force’s catering service going.
The police are unable to get food out to the many unscheduled patrols across the country or reach the patrols that are on duty on remote stretches of highway, the proposal said.
The Home Ministry will adjust the amount in the revised budget of FY2014-15.
Unused funds will be handed over to the Finance Division by July 30, 2015 according to the proposal.
The government has already sanctioned a 30% risk allowance on top of the police's basic salary because of the dangers involved in blockade and hartal duty.
Large numbers of police personnel have arrived in Dhaka from elsewhere in the country to bolster security in the capital.
The police proposal said 94,949 policemen and policewomen – 62,802 personnel during the day shift and 32,147 during the night shift – have been working round the clock all over the country to maintain law and order.
To supply cooked or dry food to deployed police personnel, Tk7cr will be needed per day – at an estimated cost of Tk75 per head.
Accordingly, some Tk64cr will be required for three months from January 5 last, it said.
Bangladesh Police has already started spending money from the Tk20.8cr it has asked to be made available, to give on-duty personnel snack allowances.
According to the proposal, of the total of Tk20.8cr, metropolitan police will get Tk3cr, Dhaka Metropolitan Police will get Tk9.27cr, district police Tk7.50 cr, Railway police 20 lakh, and the Special Branch Tk83 lakh.
