Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Oct 07, 2024 (BSS) - Adviser to the interim government on the Ministries of Planning and Education Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud today said that the government is now focusing more on the qualitative standard of development expenditure rather than its volume or size.

"We're focusing more on the qualitative standard of development expenditure than the volume of development expenditure,” he said.

The adviser was briefing reporters at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area today after the ECNEC meeting.

Answering to a question, he said they are preparing a comprehensive list of politically motivated projects undertaken over the years.

"After I assumed office this time, there was a general directive to look for those projects which are fully politically motivated, finding out those projects which are politically motivated, but witnessed maximum expenditure ... if any project witnesses maximum expenditure, then that should be completed, otherwise the public fund will go in vain," he said.

Besides, he opined that if any project has minimum expenditure and has prospect, then that project could be completed.

The Planning Adviser said the concerned officials are accomplishing such tasks with efficiency, adding, "I believe it and I want to speed up such exercise of scrutinizing projects."

Replying to another question, he said the finance adviser and the Bangladesh Bank governor was in such trouble over the fact that if the development budget becomes expansionary coupled with lack of fund, then there might be some problem to deal with inflation. 

"We're trying to minimize the development budget for their convenience," he added. 

Highlighting the background of undertaking projects in the current regime, the Planning Adviser said that the private sector is not witnessing much investment while many of the owners of industries and banks are absconding.

 "So, there is a sloth pace everywhere from resuming industries in full swing, resuming full banking operations, and lending credits to the private sector." he said. 

Following such huge changeover of power on August 5, he said it is quite usual that the private sector investment could be deterred.

Dr Mahmud said alongside the private investment, the public sector investment is also a bit less now since the development projects are going through rigorous scrutiny as many of those were politically motivated.

 Regarding the issue of rampant extortion, the Planning Adviser admitted that extortion in the country has not reduced to a great extent comparing to the previous Awami League regime. 

"Corruption itself has an economy. If a huge number of archways are built or a big number of people transported by bus, then it also creates flow of money. Money also transacted in politics of patronage and politics of tender, and those have surely reduced now. But, extortion perhaps didn't come down,” he said. 

He also mentioned that wastage of evil politics creates flow of money temporarily in the current economy. 

“But, that doesn't mean that those have to be reintroduced again,” he added. 

The Planning Adviser opined that the economical activities in the rural areas should have to be rejuvenated more if employment generation is needed. 

“Generally, there is a scarcity of employment." he said. 
 
In this regard, Dr Mahmud stressed on the needs for undertaking some fresh projects and thus moving ahead with the ongoing projects after necessary amendments.