State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki today (27 June) said the implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) is disappointing and the government is trying to overcome this situation.
Speaking as the chief guest at a shadow parliament debate competition on "Financing the budget and implementation efficiency for ensuring budget benefits" at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in Dhaka, Saki said the government had no interest in pursuing large-scale projects merely to create an illusion of development.
"The government is exercising caution with respect to megaprojects. The objective is to improve the country's ADP implementation rate by prioritising human resource development and essential initiatives," he said.
He also said the government's objective is to collect taxes fairly rather than harass taxpayers and assured that efforts to expand the tax net would not create difficulties for small businesses.
He stated that projects approved during the previous Awami League administration, which could result in considerable waste or disruption if halted, are currently under review and being rationalised. He further emphasised that instead of concentrating on mega projects, the government is prioritising development initiatives that are centred around the needs of the people and are deemed necessary.
Saki said taxes on 60 essential commodities had been reduced to shield consumers from inflationary pressures. He added that the government had also implemented measures to enable small traders to pay minimum taxes as part of efforts to broaden the tax base.
The event was chaired by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron.
In his remarks, Kiron said the country's economy had been weakened by policy failures, irregularities, and corruption during the Awami League's tenure, leaving the current administration to inherit a fragile economic situation.
He said budget benefits depended not only on securing adequate financing but also on effective implementation. Alleging widespread corruption in development projects under the previous government, he claimed that both large and small projects had been significantly overpriced.
Kiron also questioned the government's position on liquidity management. Referring to recent developments, he said the government had stated that printing money would not be necessary to address liquidity shortages, yet Bangladesh Bank had provided Tk9,000 crore to Islami Bank through money creation.
He warned that any further reliance on printing money to ease liquidity pressures could fuel inflation.
Kiron also stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to industries to attract foreign investment and generate employment. He said around 550 industrial units had completed all procedures for gas connections but were still awaiting supply, leaving investments worth about Tk23,000 crore idle.
While welcoming tax reductions on essential goods, Kiron expressed concern over the imposition of VAT on 16 grassroots business sectors, including grocery shops and confectioneries. He argued that many small traders lack trade licences, formal accounts and permanent business premises, making VAT collection difficult and potentially increasing costs for consumers.
At the debate competition, debaters from Comilla Victoria Government College defeated Primeasia University to emerge champions.
State Minister Zonayed Saki / ADP implementation rate
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