PM Hasina directs bureaucrats to fast-track development plans

In an effort to speed up the Annual Development Programme or ADP, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed bureaucrats to start formulating strategies at the beginning of the fiscal year.

"Complete paperwork and coordination among ministries within the monsoon season," she said on Sunday at a secretary committee meeting.

Hasina, however, warned that the quality of the projects should not be compromised in the process.

The parliament has passed a Tk 4.66 trillion budget for FY2018 with a development spend of Tk 1.59 trillion, which includes Tk 1.53 trillion for ADP.

The implementation of ADP, however, falls short every year. In the outgoing FY2017, it stood at 65 percent, which is 4 percentage points higher than in the previous year.

Addressing secretaries at the Cabinet Division on Sunday, the prime minister urged them to initiate steps to prop up ADP implementation.

The prime minister emphasised creating more jobs and rural development and said her administration’s top priorities included reducing income disparity, curbing corruption and ensuring good governance.
 
"Development programmes should aim to benefit the maximum number of people," said Hasina focusing on timely implementation of priority projects.
 
She also recommended effective steps to curb militancy and drug peddling as well as running awareness campaigns.    
 
Hasina said a government's tenure is fixed, which is not the case for bureaucrats.
 
She asked secretaries not to be just public servants, but 'dedicate themselves for the betterment of the people' as patriots.