Bangladesh is set to contribute $1.5 million to the proposed fund to combat Covid-19 in eight countries belonging to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
“The government has decided to commit $1.5 million for the proposed Saarc fund in order to fight coronavirus,” he said.
In a video conference between the Saarc leaders, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the creation of a fund to combat coronavirus and announced a commitment to contribute $10 million.
“The fund will be despatched once it is organizationally structured by the Saarc secretariat. Officials from the member states will take a decision in this regard,” Dr Momen said.
Nepal and Afghanistan declared they would provide $1 million each, the Maldives $200,000 and Bhutan $100,000.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have not yet announced any contributions to the fund.
