Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to pay special attention and exert extra efforts in implementing projects funded by foreign loans and grants.
In addition, the authorities concerned must submit progress reports to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) every three months on these projects.
The directives were given during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by the prime minister at the NEC Conference room in Dhaka’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar.
During the meeting, the NEC approved a development budget or Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Tk265,000 crore for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25.
Due to the ongoing economic pressures, only an additional Tk2,000 crore has been allocated in the development budget this time.
Planning Minister Abdus Salam and Planning Division Senior Secretary Satyajit Karmaker briefed reporters on the meeting’s details.
State Minister for Planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, planning commission members, and secretaries concerned were present at the briefing.
The planning minister emphasised the need for district-wise projects to ensure equal distribution of development. He also said officials returning from training abroad should be appointed to projects based on their training.
Satyajit Karmaker mentioned that 356 projects would be completed by 30 June, the highest number so far.
“The prime minister also ordered that any individual should receive separate training if appointed as a project director,” he said.
Additionally, project managers are allowed to continue working at the same location after training to enhance the project implementation efficiency, he said.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of proper feasibility studies at a project’s outset, the senior secretary said, adding that she ordered the registration of institutions conducting feasibility studies.
