DHAKA, May 17, 2022 (BSS) - The National Economic Council (NEC) today approved a Taka 2,46,066.09 crore Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year (FY23) giving highest allocation to the transport and communication sector alongside putting priority on ensuring optimum utilization of public fund through checking misuse.

NEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence. 

Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area and also from the Cabinet Division conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that out of the original ADP outlay of Taka 2,46,066.09 crore for the next fiscal year, Taka 1,53,066.09 crore will come from the local sources while the rest of Taka 93,000 crore as project assistance.

State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present at the briefing.
 
However, considering an allocation of Taka 9,937.18 crore against the autonomous bodies and corporations, the overall ADP allocation for the next fiscal reached Taka 2,56,003.27 crore.
 
The size of original ADP in the current fiscal year (FY22) was Taka 2,25,324.14 crore which was later downsized to Taka 2,07,550 crore. The fresh ADP for FY23 is around 9.21 percent higher than the original ADP of the current fiscal year and 18.56 percent higher than the RADP of the current fiscal year.

Some 1,435 projects are in the new ADP including some 1,244 investment projects, some 106 technical assistance projects and some 85 projects to be financed from the own fund of the autonomous bodies and corporations.

Revealing some of the directives from the Premier at the NEC meeting, the planning minister said that the Prime Minister had urged all concerned including the private sector to pursue austerity in using utilities like water and electricity.
 
"We'll have to maintain austerity and we should not misuse anything. Although we must be careful, but we're absolutely right on track. We've enough confidence that we'll be able to maintain our growth momentum," he said.
 
Mannan said that the Prime Minister in the meeting had asked the concerned ministries and divisions to undertake those projects on priority basis which deemed very much necessary for the people and also for the country.
 
He said the Premier had directed them to check misuse of public fund in all tiers of government machinery.
 
The planning minister said the meeting was informed that the construction work of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project is at the final stage while with the completion of the Padma Bridge Rail Link project, connectivity of the southern region with the other parts of the country would be further enhanced and thus dynamism would be infused in the economy.
 
He said once the Padma Bridge rail link project is completed, it would facilitate transportation of goods to and from Payra Port.
 
About the implementation of the mega projects, he informed that the Padma Bridge would be opened to traffic this June as the Prime Minister would officially inaugurate the movement of traffic.
 
Besides, the work on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project is right on schedule, the minister added.
 
Answering to a question, Mannan said since the Awami League government is a pro-people government, it always works for ensuring the welfare of people and also tries to appease the commoners. 
 
Asked about the possible measures of the government in the next fiscal year considering the global volatile condition, he said that the government would definitely try to make the necessary expenditure in due time through checking misuse. "We're cautious, but we're not afraid of anything."
 
Replying to another question, the planning minister said that the flow of foreign loans to Bangladesh would not face any disturbance in the coming days.
 
State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said that in recent times a qualitative change has been brought in the project formulation and approval process as they are now undertaking projects through more cautious manner and thorough scrutiny.
 
He said although the number of projects in the new ADP has been reduced in line with the government's plan, but the overall ADP allocation has been increased. 
 
Planning Commission Member Mamun-Al-Rashid said that considering the pandemic situation and the performance of the Ministry of Health, its allocation in the fresh ADP witnessed a rise of 12 percent.
 
The planning minister said at the very outset of the meeting, the NEC congratulated the Premier on her homecoming day.
 
Besides, the NEC also extended its thanks to the Prime Minister for the sound COVID-19 management in the country with limited resources as well as propelling the country towards attaining a healthy growth during that tough time of the pandemic last year.
 
The NEC meeting also thanked all concerned related to the health sector including doctors, nurses, paramedics and other officials and employees for their relentless efforts during the tough time of the pandemic. 
 
Out of the 15 sectors, the transport and communication sector witnessed the highest ADP allocation of Taka 70,695.52 crore in the next fiscal year followed by the Power and Energy Sector Taka 39,412.36 crore, the education sector Taka 29,081.38 crore, the health sector Taka 19,277.87 crore.
 
The other sectors with fresh ADP allocation are: General government services sector Taka 2,875.28 crore, defense sector Taka 1,270.05 crore, public discipline and protection sector with Taka 3,609.77 crore, industry and economic services sector Taka 5,407.26 crore, agriculture sector Taka 10,143.57 crore, local government and rural development with Taka 16,465.02 crore, environment, climate change and water resources with Taka 9,859.25 crore, housing and community facilities with Taka 24,497.22 crore, religion, culture and entertainment sector with Taka 2,364.91 crore, science and ICT sector with Taka 4,167.90 crore and social security sector with Taka 2,569.73 crore.
 
According to ministry and Division wise new ADP allocation, the Local Government Division enjoyed the highest allocation of around Taka 35,842 crore followed by the Road Transport and Highways Division with around Taka 31,296 crore, the Power Division with around Taka 24,139 crore, Ministry of Science and Technology with around Taka 16,011 crore, Health Services Division with around Taka 15,851 crore, Ministry of Railways with around Taka 14,929 crore, Secondary and Higher Education Division with around Taka 14,001 crore, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education with around Taka 11,642 crore, Bridges Division with around Taka 9,290 crore and the Ministry of Water Resources with around Taka 7,938 crore.
 
Out of the mega projects, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project received the highest fresh ADP allocation of around Taka 13,396 crore followed by the Fourth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-4) with around Taka 8,759 crore, Matarbari 2x600 MW ultra super critical coal fired power plant with around Taka 6,554 crore, Expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (1st phase) with around Taka 6,019 crore, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project with around Taka 5,809 crore, COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness (WB-GoB) project with around Taka 4,254 crore, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Construction Project with around Taka 3,851 crore, Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway construction project with around Taka 3,703 crore, Expansion and strengthening of power system network under DPDC area with around Taka 3,059 crore and Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-6) with around Taka 2,883 crore.