State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki has underscored a stricter reform push in public investment management, saying that the government is moving to eliminate inefficiency, corruption and repeated delays in development project execution.
Speaking to journalists after a session of the Planning Ministry held during the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Monday, Zonayed Saki said the traditional approach to development implementation can no longer continue.
He stressed that projects must now be delivered within fixed timelines, with improved quality and stronger accountability.
He said the Planning Ministry is working on a new strategic framework aligned with the government’s election commitments and its 31-point outline. The initiative, planned over the next two years, aims to stabilise the economy, address existing vulnerabilities, and promote inclusive growth by narrowing inequality.
According to him, strict instructions have been issued to ensure transparency in the use of Annual Development Programme (ADP) funds. Strengthening institutional capacity has also been identified as a key priority to prevent misuse of resources and reduce wastage at every stage of project implementation.
Zonayed Saki highlighted job creation as a central policy goal, stating that the government intends to generate one crore employment opportunities.
He added that future development projects will be evaluated based on both job creation potential and environmental sustainability, with the broader aim of building a trillion-dollar economy.
The state minister also noted that deputy commissioners have raised several practical issues, including land acquisition delays, monitoring weaknesses, and irregularities in implementation. The government, he said, is preparing a dedicated action plan to address these concerns.
The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) is being strengthened further to ensure value for money, while the Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) is undergoing restructuring for more real-time and accurate data systems.
He further said long-delayed projects - some initiated in 2017 and still incomplete - along with repeated time and cost extensions, will be curtailed through stricter enforcement measures.
Zonayed Saki concluded that field administration has been instructed to prioritise people-oriented, cost-effective and timely development work to support the vision of a more efficient and accountable state.
