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Planning and Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Monday spoke of significant irregularities in ongoing development projects and stressed the urgent need for thorough scrutiny and reform.
Speaking after his first meeting with planning ministry officials at the National Economic Council in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area, he emphasised that the current state of these projects is marked by “indiscipline.”
“It is urgently needed to scrutinise the ongoing projects because the situation right now is highly disorganised,” the adviser said, reports UNB.
He noted that the interim government has taken office at a time when many sectors of the country are plagued by inefficiencies, requiring immediate corrective measures.
“Some decisions are needed right now,” he added, underscoring the importance of stabilising the economy — a critical task closely linked to the Planning Commission’s role.
Wahiduddin pointed out the need to reduce inflation and emphasised that controlling public expenditure is essential for avoiding a high-deficit budget. “We are considering how to reduce public expenditure and development expenditure is the most flexible area to target in this regard,” he explained.
He also said the government is right now focusing on controlling inflation and does not want to increase the money supply.
The adviser also highlighted specific issues with large projects funded by foreign sources. “There are problems at the negotiation level, which have prevented the effective use of substantial funds from donor organisations,” he said.
He mentioned that while some projects are yet to start, others are at various stages of completion, and many are linked to specific constituencies or awaiting ECNEC approval.
“We must scrutinise these projects, especially those lacking clear priority or expected outcomes. We need to quickly evaluate and cut those that do not meet the necessary criteria,” he said.
Regarding mega projects, Wahiduddin expressed concern over extensive irregularities in design, expenditure and timeframes. “Some of these issues stem from a lack of skills, while others involve significant corruption by contractors,” he remarked.
He also criticised the inefficient management of infrastructural projects, noting that many could have been completed at a lower cost. “Due to improper evaluation, faulty design, and repeated extensions, these projects have wasted considerable resources,” the adviser said, adding that Bangladesh is known for projects with some of the highest per-unit costs globally.
He questioned the motives behind certain projects initiated by various ministries, asking, “Are these projects truly beneficial for the people?”
Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of improving project management to ensure that future initiatives align with the country’s macroeconomic goals.
“The way we are advancing in the macroeconomic system, project management is the most important aspect,” he said, noting that the interim government has assembled a team to oversee the country’s entire economic system.
Employment generation over GDP growth
Wahiduddin on Monday also emphasised that generating more employment is now a higher priority for the interim government than simply boosting GDP growth.
“Our priority is now to generate more employment and stabilise the economy,” he said, noting that while GDP growth is important, it is not sufficient on its own. “The focus on GDP alone has overlooked the qualitative standards that are crucial for sustainable development.”
He criticised the previous government’s approach to development projects, pointing out that many were initiated without adequately considering the financial liabilities, whether funded locally or from foreign sources. “Some projects were undertaken without proper prioritisation and were influenced by vested interests.”
The adviser stressed the importance of reallocating funds from unnecessary expenses in development projects to areas that can generate more employment. “To me, it’s much more important to generate employment than to increase GDP growth. However, these two are interconnected,” he explained.
He also indicated that ongoing and early-stage projects would be re-evaluated to ensure they align with current priorities. He underscored the importance of human resource development, stating that infrastructure alone cannot drive prosperity. “Human resources development is essential — without it, infrastructures are just skeletons,” he remarked.
As the adviser to both the planning and education ministries, he expressed confidence in his ability to integrate human resource development with the country’s broader economic planning.
When asked about the future of mega projects, Wahiduddin noted that the government would not adhere to a single policy but would focus on preventing delays and cost overruns that have plagued many large-scale projects.
“Many projects, including major ones, have had to be revised four to five times. We will have the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division prepare a report to ensure such mistakes are not repeated,” he said.
He also addressed concerns about the credibility of data published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, including inflation, GDP, and other social indices. “I will look into whether the issues stem from a lack of skills or intentional errors,” he assured.
