Finance ministry to fund Hadi’s treatment from its own budget: Finance Adviser

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has said the cost of treatment for Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi will be borne from the finance ministry’s own budget.

He made the remarks on Monday while responding to a question from journalists after meetings of the Advisory Committee on Government Purchase and the Advisory Committee on Economic Affairs at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat.

The finance adviser said, “When we were informed yesterday that Hadi might be sent abroad, we said there was no issue of money. We will give the allocation and manage it.”

Asked how much money has been allocated for Hadi’s treatment, he said that sending him abroad would obviously involve costs and the government has said it is prepared to bear whatever is required. “He may need to be taken by air ambulance. Luckily, the finance ministry is providing the funds from its own budget. We will calculate the expenses later. There was no hesitation on this issue. When the decision was taken and the medical board gave its opinion, the government immediately sought our view, and we said we are ready at any time,” he added.

The chief adviser’s press wing said all treatment-related expenses of Osman Hadi will be borne by the state and that the chief adviser has instructed all concerned to keep the treatment process under constant monitoring. The chief adviser has sought prayers from the public for Hadi’s speedy recovery.

Osman Hadi had announced his intention to contest the Dhaka-8 seat as an independent candidate. On Friday, at 2.24 pm, he was shot while returning from public outreach activities in the Motijheel area, when he was travelling in a battery-powered rickshaw on Box Culvert Road in Purana Paltan. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital.