Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan. -File Photo

DHAKA, Mar 9, 2026 (BSS) – Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan today stressed the need for ensuring effective coordination among different agencies to accelerate development activities in the hill districts and ensure quality outcomes for the people.

“Effective coordination among the agencies involved in development works is essential. It helps prevent wastage of efforts and ensures quality implementation, which directly benefits the people,” he said.

The minister was addressing a meeting reviewing the January 2026 progress of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) projects implemented by different organisations under the Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs at the CHT Complex auditorium on Bailey Road in the capital today.

Emphasising transparency and accountability, Dipen called for ensuring transparency in development work, maintaining accountability and making prudent use of government resources.

Calling for coordination, the minister said Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Hill District Councils and the Development Board often implement road and infrastructure projects separately. 

“If there is no proper coordination among these works, development may be hampered and, in many cases, allocated funds remain unutilised,” he said, urging all concerned to practise austerity in every activity.

He also said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced nationwide austerity and resource-saving measures, which must be followed strictly. He directed the authorities concerned to supervise works in the education, health and engineering sectors in accordance with the Rules of Business.

Speaking at the meeting, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin said the government’s main goal is to successfully implement the 180-day programme in line with its election manifesto.
“No task should be left pending. Today’s work must be completed today,” he said.
He also warned that negligence in the ministry’s work would not be tolerated and stressed that every project must be completed with honesty. If necessary, the quality of work would be assessed  through surprise visits, he added.

Secretary of the ministry Mohammad Mizanur Rahman expressed dissatisfaction over the overall progress of project expenditure. He said the spending progress until January 2026 stood at 16.9 percent, which is lower than the national average of 21.18 percent.

Although the pace of work slowed somewhat due to the election, he asked the officials concerned to speed up activities to achieve the targets.

The meeting was informed that a total of TK 872 crore 40 lakh 79 thousand has been allocated for the ministry under the revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, of which TK  258 crore 57 lakh 22 thousand has been released until January 2026.

Additional Secretary of the ministry Md Monirul Islam presented the progress report at the meeting. Among others, Chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council agriculturist Kajal Talukdar and Chairman of Khagrachhari Hill District Council Shefalika Tripura were present, along with senior officials of the ministry and its subordinate organisations.