UNB, Dhaka :
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday approved the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the current fiscal (2013-14) with Tk 60,000 crore, down from the original ADP outlay of Tk 65,870 crore.
The amount is Tk 7,634 crore higher than the revised ADP of the last fiscal (2012-13).
The approval of RADP for FY14 came from the 1st National Economic Council (NEC) meeting of the present government, held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with NEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Ministry sources said, some 1,254 projects were incorporated in the RADP for the current fiscal year with 202 newly approved projects. Of the total number of projects, there are some 1,049 investment projects; 174 technical assistance projects; and 31 projects with Japan Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF).
The meeting expressed the hope that some 236 projects would be completed in the current fiscal year.
Planning Ministry sources said that in the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the concerned Ministries so that the projects are implemented properly, maintaining pace. She also directed all concerned not to let the projects, which are nearing completion, to run into the next year.
About the additional allocation of Tk 5,000 crore from the proposed RADP allocation of Tk 55,000 crore, Hasina said that such allocation has been made keeping the budget deficit
within five percent of the GDP. “This reflects that our economic situation is stable and there is a continuity of our development,” she said.
Speaking at the meeting, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the allocation for the Padma Bridge would remain intact in the RADP for the current fiscal as the economy of Bangladesh did not face the impact of recession due to the macro-economic stability.
There are some 46 projects on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis in the RADP for current fiscal, he added.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that following the guidance from the Finance Ministry to revise the ADP to Tk 55,000 crore, the Planning Ministry has been demanding to raise the revised ADP to Tk 60,000 crore due to additional demand from various Ministries.
He said allocation of Tk 5,000 crore was added to the proposed revised ADP of Tk 55,000 crore. The additional allocation has been made in line with the demand from various Ministries after reviewing their implementation capacity.
The Planning Minister said the additional allocation would soon be adjusted against the concerned Ministries in consultation with the Finance Minister.
Asked about his recent ‘tiff’ with the Finance Minister, AHM Mustafa Kamal, popularly known as Lotus Kamal, declined any further comment on the issue, beyond saying “I’ll have to be cautious in future.”
He, however, added that there might be differences of opinion between the Finance Ministry and the Planning Ministry, but at the end of the day those differences would be resolved.
In the last two months, the Planning Ministry and the Finance Ministry were at loggerheads over demand for additional funds from the ministries and divisions over the Revised ADP for the current fiscal.
The Planning Minister sought cooperation of all including the media to help properly implement the Revised ADP.
He said, the fast track projects of the government would be implemented on priority basis.
Ministers, Members of the Planning Commission and concerned Secretaries were present.
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday approved the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the current fiscal (2013-14) with Tk 60,000 crore, down from the original ADP outlay of Tk 65,870 crore.
The amount is Tk 7,634 crore higher than the revised ADP of the last fiscal (2012-13).
The approval of RADP for FY14 came from the 1st National Economic Council (NEC) meeting of the present government, held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with NEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Ministry sources said, some 1,254 projects were incorporated in the RADP for the current fiscal year with 202 newly approved projects. Of the total number of projects, there are some 1,049 investment projects; 174 technical assistance projects; and 31 projects with Japan Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF).
The meeting expressed the hope that some 236 projects would be completed in the current fiscal year.
Planning Ministry sources said that in the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the concerned Ministries so that the projects are implemented properly, maintaining pace. She also directed all concerned not to let the projects, which are nearing completion, to run into the next year.
About the additional allocation of Tk 5,000 crore from the proposed RADP allocation of Tk 55,000 crore, Hasina said that such allocation has been made keeping the budget deficit
within five percent of the GDP. “This reflects that our economic situation is stable and there is a continuity of our development,” she said.
Speaking at the meeting, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the allocation for the Padma Bridge would remain intact in the RADP for the current fiscal as the economy of Bangladesh did not face the impact of recession due to the macro-economic stability.
There are some 46 projects on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis in the RADP for current fiscal, he added.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that following the guidance from the Finance Ministry to revise the ADP to Tk 55,000 crore, the Planning Ministry has been demanding to raise the revised ADP to Tk 60,000 crore due to additional demand from various Ministries.
He said allocation of Tk 5,000 crore was added to the proposed revised ADP of Tk 55,000 crore. The additional allocation has been made in line with the demand from various Ministries after reviewing their implementation capacity.
The Planning Minister said the additional allocation would soon be adjusted against the concerned Ministries in consultation with the Finance Minister.
Asked about his recent ‘tiff’ with the Finance Minister, AHM Mustafa Kamal, popularly known as Lotus Kamal, declined any further comment on the issue, beyond saying “I’ll have to be cautious in future.”
He, however, added that there might be differences of opinion between the Finance Ministry and the Planning Ministry, but at the end of the day those differences would be resolved.
In the last two months, the Planning Ministry and the Finance Ministry were at loggerheads over demand for additional funds from the ministries and divisions over the Revised ADP for the current fiscal.
The Planning Minister sought cooperation of all including the media to help properly implement the Revised ADP.
He said, the fast track projects of the government would be implemented on priority basis.
Ministers, Members of the Planning Commission and concerned Secretaries were present.
