The transport and communication sector will get the highest allocation in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) proposed for the next fiscal year (FY23) – up from 27.35% in the outgoing year to 34.8%.
According to the Planning Commission, out of the original ADP outlay of Tk246,066.09 crore for the next fiscal year, Tk153,066.09 crore will come from local sources while the rest will be project assistance.
However, considering an allocation of Tk9,937.18 crore against autonomous bodies and corporations, the overall ADP allocation for the next fiscal has reached Tk2,56,003.27 crore.
The size of the original ADP in the current fiscal year (FY22) was Tk225,324.14 crore but it was later downsized to Tk207,550 crore. The fresh ADP for FY23 is around 9.21% higher than the original ADP of the current fiscal year and 18.56% higher than the revised ADP.
Priorities
Of the total ADP of Tk246,066.09 crore, the budget proposes the highest Tk70,695.52 crore (34.8%) for the transport and communication sector, followed by Tk39,412.36 crore (16.01%) for power and energy, Tk29,081.38 crore (11.82%) for education, and Tk24,497.22 crore (9.96%) for housing and community facilities.
The other sectors being prioritised are the health sector (Tk19,277.87 crore), local government and rural development (Tk16,465.02 crore), agriculture (Tk10,143.57 crore), environment, climate change and water resources (Tk9,859.25 crore), industry and economic services sector (Tk5,407.26 crore).
The sectors that have been accorded minimum priority are the science and ICT sector with Tk4,167.90 crore, public discipline and protection Tk3,609.77 crore, general government services Tk2,875.28 crore, social security Tk2,569.73 crore, religion, culture and entertainment Tk2,364.91 crore, and defence Tk1,270.05 crore.
In the outgoing fiscal, the transport and communication sector got the highest Tk 61,631 crore (27.35%), followed by power and energy, housing and community facilities, education, health, local government and rural development, environment, climate change and water, agriculture, industries and economic services, and science and information technology.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will place the proposed budget in Parliament today.
Earlier, the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the ADP for the next fiscal year.
According to the Planning Commission, some 1,435 projects are in the new ADP, including some 1,244 investment projects, 106 technical assistance projects and 85 projects – to be financed by autonomous bodies and corporations with their own funds.
Ministry-wise ADP allocation
The Local Government Division will enjoy the highest allocation of around Tk35,842 crore, followed by the Road Transport and Highways Division with around Tk31,296 crore, the Power Division with around Tk24,139 crore, the Ministry of Science and Technology with around Tk16,011 crore, the Health Services Division with around Tk15,851 crore, the Ministry of Railways with around Tk14,929 crore, the Secondary and Higher Education Division with Tk14,001 crore, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education with around Tk11,642 crore, the Bridges Division with around Tk9,290 crore and the Ministry of Water Resources with around Tk7,938 crore.
“The ministries and divisions concerned had asked for undertaking the projects on a priority basis deemed very much necessary for the people and also for the country,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan.
“Undertaking unnecessary projects is nothing but a waste of public funds,” he added.
To prevent a possible debacle in the wake of the global economic crisis, Bangladesh has already taken some precautionary measures that include limiting the implementation of projects requiring imports and placing a bar on foreign travel by government officials.
