Four conditions set for project approval
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said the government will no longer approve projects that fail to ensure value for money, return on investment, employment generation and environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the inauguration of the second phase of the RAISE project (RAISE-2) at Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation Bhaban in Agargaon, he said all development projects are now being assessed based on these four key indicators.
Emphasising accountability in public spending, the minister said projects are financed with taxpayers’ money and therefore must serve the public interest effectively.
Khosru said nearly 1,300 projects currently under the Planning Commission’s review are being reassessed, and many may be cancelled for lacking meaningful benefits for people.
He said the government is moving away from excessive focus on mega infrastructure projects and prioritising healthcare, education, employment and inclusive economic growth instead.
“Our goal is to democratise the economy so every citizen can participate in and benefit from
growth,” he said.
The minister also expressed concern over Bangladesh’s high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, calling the situation “shameful” and noting that the rate exceeds even that of Afghanistan.
He said the upcoming national budget will significantly increase allocations for health, education and social protection, with special emphasis on preventive and primary healthcare services.
Highlighting the importance of the creative economy and rural cottage industries, Khosru said the government plans to introduce the “One Village, One Product” initiative to support rural entrepreneurs such as blacksmiths, potters and weavers through branding and design assistance for global market access.
The RAISE-2 project, jointly implemented by the World Bank and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, aims to provide skills training and financial support to 200,000 youths and micro-entrepreneurs.
The initiative will also train 1,600 women as home-based childcare entrepreneurs to encourage greater female participation in the workforce.
By 2030, the project is expected to directly benefit more than 423,000 people, particularly youths in chars, haors, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, persons with disabilities and ethnic minority communities.
