PM urges thorough evaluation of project costs and returns

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the Planning Commission to identify which of the running projects can be completed quickly with little cost to reap maximum economic benefits from them.

“We have to prioritize the development programs that can be finished with little money. Because I think that the quicker we can finish these projects the quicker there will be returns and the country will get the benefits,” she said.

The prime minister said this in her introductory speech at the first meeting of the commission after forming the new government at the NEC auditorium of the Planning Commission in Sher-E-Bangla Nagar. She is also the chairperson of the commission.

She asked the officials concerned to avoid delays in the implementation of projects and their extension.

Sheikh Hasina asked them to deeply look into the costs of the projects and the expected returns.

“While taking up new projects, please look deeply into their expenditure, how much loan is involved, how much we have to repay with interest, how much time we would get for repaying the loans,” she said.

She also asked them to examine whether the country can take out that much loan.

“This is urgently needed before taking up any project,” she said.

Besides, she said, the government has to consider the returns and effectiveness of a particular project for a particular area.

“How much the general public will benefit and how much it would inject into the economy. We have to look into that,” she added.

The prime minister mentioned that Bangladesh is bracing for the biggest challenge in 2026 when it will complete its graduation to a developing country.

“We have to be specific about what kind of facilities we will get as a developing country. From those, we have to pick up the best facilities for us. And we have to start our work according to that,” she said.

She mentioned that many facilities as an LDC country might not be available after graduation, although they will be available till 2029 and the government has already requested to extend those up to 2032.

“We have to consider all these elements while counting our challenges and find out the ways to face those,” she said.

She requested all to work hard so that the positive results of the independence and spirit of the liberation reach everyone in the country and the people enjoy developed and prosperous lives.

She also vowed to turn the country into a smart one by 2041.

Source: UNB