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Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed says the government will bear the cost of overseas treatment for Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat on Monday, Salehuddin said the finance ministry had already made arrangements to cover all expenses, reports bdnews24.com.
“We were informed about Hadi’s situation yesterday, and we are ready,” he said.
“He will be sent abroad. When they contacted us yesterday, we said money is not an issue. We will provide the allocation. Whatever is needed has been managed.”
An air ambulance arrived in Dhaka at 11:22 am on Monday to take Hadi to Singapore, where he will be admitted to Singapore General Hospital, officials said.
Asked how much money had been allocated for the treatment of the potential independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency, Salehuddin said the amount had not been fixed.
“When it was decided that Hadi would be sent abroad, it was obvious that money would be involved,” he said.
“We said from the finance ministry that whatever is needed -- whether it requires a helicopter or an air ambulance -- will be provided. Fortunately, the finance ministry is paying the amount from its own budget.”
“There was no hesitation on this matter,” he added.
“Once the decision was taken and approved by the board, the government acted immediately. When our opinion was sought, we gave it. We will do it at any time.”
In a statement issued on Sunday night, the Chief Advisor’s Office said all arrangements had been completed to take Hadi to the Accident Emergency Department of Singapore General Hospital.
It said the government had been in contact with several hospitals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia over the past two days for his advanced treatment.
The decision was taken after consulting Evercare Hospital’s expert medical team and discussions with Hadi’s family, the statement said.
Following further consultations involving Cultural Affairs Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooki, the chief advisor’s special assistant for the health ministry Md Sayedur Rahman, Evercare Hospital physician Dr Zafar, and Hadi’s brother Omar bin Hadi, it was decided to send him to Singapore.
Hadi, who rose to prominence through the July Uprising and the movement to ban the Awami League, had announced his intention to contest the 13th parliamentary election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency.
He was attacked on Friday while heading to the Bijoynagar area for a campaign event.
Hadi was travelling in a battery-powered rickshaw when an assailant on a moving motorcycle shot him, with the bullet hitting him in the head.
He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for surgery and later transferred to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Doctors described his condition as “extremely critical”.