The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Economists and experts in relevant fields have expressed their concern agony over the lowest ever Annual Development Program (ADP) implementation, recorded in the first half of current fiscal year.

According to the IMED annual report 2008, ADP implementation rate was recorded 21 per cent only till December 31, 2007. It was the lowest ADP implementation rate, recorded in last 10 years.

It is a serious case of strategic failure by present government who have slowed all development programs in the country by operating unregulated anti-corruption movement, said former Secretary of Bangladesh Government Muhammad Shahidul Alam.

He presented his study paper on ADP implementation and current situation yesterday at a seminar organised by Bangladesh Policy Forum (BPF) at the national press club in the capital.

Chairman, Public Administration Department of North South University Bangladesh Dr Shaikh Toufiq read out the paper in his absence.

According to his paper, ADP implementation rates in the first half of current fiscal year is two per cent lower than the rate recorded during the same period of 2006-07 fiscal year.

ADP implementation rate in the ministry of LGED was only 16 per cent in July-December 2007 period while it was 33 per cent recorded during the same period of 2006. Similar decline in implementation rate was also reported in the ministry of roads and transportation, which was 18 per cent recorded in the first half of current fiscal year in place of 29 per cent in the earlier year.

Ministry of power and electricity has also reported 14 per cent ADP implementation rate in the first six months of current financial year, which was 10 per cent lower than that the rate recorded in previous fiscal year. Similar slow was also reported from the health department of Bangladesh Government, which was six per cent lower than the earlier year's record.

It is considered as a failure of the present Government as they have failed to spend a major proportion of money, allocated to for various development works during this period, said Mahmudur Rahman former Energy Adviser of Bangladesh Government.

"Present anti-corruption movement has turned against the development," he said. According to him, if the Government tries to spend the rest 78 per cent ADP with in the last six month of this financial year, there is a strong chance of mismanagement and wastage in the process.

"Present non-political Government has in fact shown the difference between the political government and themselves," he said.

With in two years of their rule, they have set up three major records in negative aspects for national economy. One is the lowest ever ADP implementation rate, secondly highest ever inflation rates and lowest private sector investment in national economy as third record, he added.

This three negative records would pull back our national economy for over years and have already stopped ongoing growth of national development, which continued for last several years.

The nation would have to suffer for many years to overcome the damages, done by present non-political Government in the name of corruption free state.

Professor of Dhaka University Dr Muhammad Mahbub Ullah, Professor of Law of Dhaka University Dr Mainul Ahsan Khan, Secretary of BPF Dr Azizur Rahman Khan were also present on the occasion.