NEC approves the Annual Development Program (ADP) of over Tk 2.5 lac crores for the next 2022-23 financial year. This money will be spent on 1,435 projects in the next fiscal year through this ADP.
The size of the main ADP for the next fiscal year is Tk 2 lacs 46 thousand and 66 crores. The number of projects is 1,350. Apart from this, about Tk 9 thousand 937 crores and 18 lacs have been allocated for autonomous organisations or corporations. The number of projects of these organisations or corporations is 85. In all, the size of ADP stands at Tk 2 lacs 56 thousand and 3 crores. This is 18.54% percent more than the revised ADP for the current 2021-22 fiscal year and 9.2% more than the original ADP.
The NEC meeting held on Tuesday (17 May) approved the ADP for the next fiscal year. The new ADP has 1,435 projects.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over it. She attended the NEC meeting online. The meeting was held at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and was attended by high-ranking officials including the concerned ministers.
After the NEC meeting, Minister of Planning MA Mannan told reporters that the people’s government works for the satisfaction of the people. But many criticise it as a project of public satisfaction. He said that the Prime Minister has instructed us to be stern regarding the cost of the project.
Tk 1 lac 53 thousand 66 crores and 9 lacs will be given from internal sources in the next ADP. And Tk 93 thousand crores will be available as foreign aid. The transport and communication sector is at the top in terms of allocations. The sector has received an allocation of Tk 70 thousand 696 crores or about 29% of the ADP. Besides, the power and energy sector has been allocated Tk 39 thousand and 412 crores, the education sector Tk 29 thousand and 81 crores, the housing sector Tk 24 thousand and 497 crores, and the health sector Tk 19 thousand and 278 crores.
State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam told a news conference that the number of projects in the next ADP has been reduced. Unnecessary projects are not being kept. The projects have been taken up in ADP keeping in line with the development.
At the press conference, the Minister of Planning said that documents have been sent to the Prime Minister ahead of time for the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. The bridge will be inaugurated in June. According to the ADP’s book, even though the work on the main bridge has been completed, an allocation of around Tk 2 thousand crores have been made for the Padma Bridge in the next fiscal year as well. This money has been earmarked mainly for maintenance and payment of arrears to the contractors.
Minister of Planning MA Mannan said that the construction of the Rooppur nuclear power plant is also going according to plan. About Tk 13.5 thousand crores have been allocated for the Rooppur project. Overall, there will be no problem with foreign aid funded by ADP. We are alert but not apprehensive.
