The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Monday approved 17 development projects in different sectors like health, power and energy, agriculture, road communication, infrastructures involving a total estimated cost of Tk 15,383.51 crore to infuse dynamism in the country’s development initiatives.
Of this, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from the government’s own funds, while Tk 5,609.70 crore from project loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the concerned organisation’s own resources.
The approval came at a meeting of the ECNEC held on Monday at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus.
Of the approved projects, 12 are new and five are revised projects.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said although the government’s ambitious reforms to the public procurement system are temporarily slowing down the implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP), but the overhaul is essential to dismantle long-standing contractor monopolies and ensure greater transparency in project execution.
Dr Mahmud admitted that ADP implementation has not become dynamic despite continual efforts.
“The old problems are still there. The biggest challenge is that people are now reluctant to take up the role of project director, and contractors are no longer showing the same level of enthusiasm as before,” he said.
According to him, this hesitation stems mainly from the introduction of the new Public Procurement Policy 2025, which has brought in far stricter transparency standards.
“For years, a handful of powerful contractors controlled major national infrastructure works – highways, railways, everything. The evaluation system was shaped in a way that ensured that only those who previously secured the contracts would get them again,” he continued.
He emphasised that the 2025 policy is a “major reform”, making it impossible for any party to secure contracts anonymously or through proxy arrangements.
“One can’t take a contract under someone else’s name. Anyone winning a contract must disclose full information about their businesses, tax status, and any affiliated enterprises. Everything must be open,” he explained.
Dr Mahmud stated that this transparency requirement has made the contracting environment stricter and has somewhat discouraged habitual contractors.
At the same time, the government has incorporated provisions allowing new and young entrepreneurs-even those without previous contracting experience-to participate as minor partners in large tenders.
“We can’t let the same contractors dominate forever. Those who run their businesses honestly and pay taxes should have the opportunity to enter this sector. Particularly the younger generation must be given space,” he noted.
.jpg "Bangladesh records 4 more measles-related deaths in past 24 hours")
