BM Desk : The interim government on Tuesday approved a record 17 development projects in a single sitting, six of them revised, without facing the press, as the planning adviser once again avoided the post-ECNEC media briefing.

The move comes amid rising concerns over transparency and scrutiny during the interim administration’s project approval spree.

Presided over by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) endorsed the projects with a combined estimated cost of Tk 89.74 billion, Planning Commission officials said.

It was the second time within a month that the interim regime refrained from briefing the press, echoing a similar silence after a May 24 meeting where nine projects worth Tk 118.51 billion were cleared.

Earlier in November 2023, the ousted Sheikh Hasina government just before the last election in 2024 approved 37 development projects worth Tk 526.12 billion, which was the second highest number during her past five years and three times higher than usual.

Each ECNEC in Bangladesh usually approves 6-12 projects, but analysts have expressed concerns over the sudden move of the interim government over the projects approval spree “without proper vetting”.

They say that since there is no parliament now, the interim government should be accountable to the people regarding its development works through facing the press with questions and answer session.

On the day, the ECNEC approved World Bank (WB)-financed five development projects with a combined cost of Tk 32.88 billion, avoiding proper scrutinisation of the project proposals, insiders have said.

“We have scrutinised the projects within a shorter span of time as there were some instructions for rapidly endorsing the WB-funded projects,” a PC official told The Financial Express, requesting for anonymity.

Among the projects supported by the WB, the Improvement of Public Investment Management System (IPIMS) from the Planning Division received approval for Tk 3.16 billion, while the Procurement Modernisation to Enhance Public Service Delivery (PMIPSD) from the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority was approved at Tk 5.52 billion. The Statistical Capacity Enhancement and Modernisation Project (SCEMP) from the BBS was allocated Tk 10.96 billion, and the Strengthening Public Audit Through Digital Transformation initiative from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office was approved for Tk 3.15 billion. Additionally, the Capacity Enhancement (SPADTEC) and the Strengthening Domestic Revenue Mobilisation Project (SDRMP) from the National Board of Revenue were approved at a cost of Tk 10.0 billion.

Other endorsed projects include: the Upazila Complex Expansion Project phase-II, which has been revised to increase the cost by Tk 4.83 billion; the Integrated Services and Livelihood Improvement for the Forcibly Displaced Rohingya and Host Community at Tk 6.52 billion; the construction of 200-bed drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers in seven divisional cities at Tk 14.13 billion; enhancing the capacity of four newly established marine academies by installing simulators and other related facilities at Tk 2.48 billion; Access to Justice for Women, which focuses on strengthening community dispute resolution and improving case management at Tk 1.86 billion; and the establishment of a third submarine cable to expand the international telecommunications system in Bangladesh, which has been revised to increase the cost by Tk 2.30 billion.

In addition, the construction of 13 new buffer godowns across 13 districts in Bangladesh aims to improve fertilizer preservation and distribution facilities (3rd revised), achieving a cost reduction of Tk 13.60 million. The establishment of the Kishore-Kishori Club (1st revised) will increase costs by Tk 1.15 billion. Furthermore, the strengthening of integrated services and operations for a quick response team to prevent the repression of women and children is budgeted at Tk 3.09 billion. The TVET Teachers for the Future (TTF) Programme is allocated Tk 20.09 billion, while the Countrywide Mobile Library (3rd revised) will see an increase in costs by Tk 384.1 million.

Additionally, the project to enhance the development budget management system through the installation of a new digital database at the programming division (3rd revised) will extend costs by Tk 20.4 million, all of which were approved during the meeting.

Moreover, the ECNEC meeting was informed about 15 projects that had been approved previously by the Planning Adviser. The meeting was attended by the relevant advisers, along with members and secretaries of the Planning Commission.