In terms of expenditure, ministries and divisions spent Tk2,121.18 crore in July.

TDS Desk:

The implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) stood at just 0.69% in July, the first month of the current fiscal year, according to a report by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the planning ministry.

In contrast, the ADP implementation rate was 1.05% in the first month of FY25, according to the report released by the IMED today (24 August).

In terms of expenditure, ministries and divisions spent Tk2,121.18 crore in July, compared with Tk1,644.66 crore during the same period last year.

The government has set an ADP spending target of Tk3,08,924.86 crore for the current fiscal year, including funding from its own agencies.

Planning Commission and IMED officials said ADP spending is usually low at the beginning of a fiscal year as ministries and divisions focus on preparatory work and project implementation plans.

Spending is expected to rise gradually as project activities gain momentum, they added.

Planning Commission officials said the government is prioritising faster ADP implementation this fiscal year and has instructed ministries and divisions to increase expenditure.

Kabir Ahamed, head of the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission, told that steps have already been taken to expedite ADP implementation.

Nearly half of Bangladesh’s ADP expenditure is allocated to physical infrastructure projects. To address implementation hurdles, meetings were held at the start of the fiscal year with implementing agencies and project directors, he said.

“Meetings have been held with project directors from the Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Railway, Bridges Division and city corporations, among others,” Kabir said.

The Physical Infrastructure Division is also conducting weekly project inspections, he said, adding that implementation hurdles are being addressed promptly to prevent projects from stalling.

Meanwhile, IMED officials said the division has taken an initiative to hold meetings with implementing agencies to accelerate ADP implementation.

Monthly review meetings are also being held on projects under different ministries and divisions, they said, adding that any implementation issues identified will be addressed immediately.