Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that government projects will only be approved if they fulfil four key criteria, including proper utilization of funds, return on investment, employment generation and environmental sustainability.
The Finance and Planning Minister said government funds are essentially taxpayers’ money, and therefore every project must have a clearly defined purpose, measurable output and public accountability.
Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the current government has introduced a set of strict benchmarks to ensure transparency and accountability in approving development projects after assuming office.
Referring to past corruption and misuse of public funds, he said any new project will now be evaluated based on four key criteria value for money, return on investment, employment generation potential and environmental impact.
He further said many of the nearly 1,300 projects currently under the Planning Commission lack economic returns, employment opportunities or environmental considerations, and those projects are being scrapped by the government.
“Any future project that does not meet these standards will not be approved. It is that simple,” he said.
The Minister made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the second phase of the Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment (RAISE) project, titled “Stepping Forward: The Inauguration of RAISE-2,” at PKSF Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The programme was organized by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in collaboration with the World Bank.
He stressed that the public also has the right to know the rationale and expected benefits behind government projects.
“It is not enough that only we understand the purpose of a project. Ordinary people must also know the thinking behind these initiatives,” he added.
The Minister also criticized what he described as an oligarchic and patronage-based economic structure that had excluded ordinary citizens from economic opportunities over the years.
“As a result, poverty has increased and continues to rise,” he said, adding that the government is placing greater emphasis on social protection initiatives instead of mega projects.
Highlighting the healthcare sector, Amir Khasru said Bangladesh is moving toward universal healthcare and aims to expand access to primary and preventive healthcare services.
“Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure in Bangladesh is even higher than Afghanistan’s. This is shameful,” he said, adding that the upcoming national budget would reflect the government’s priorities in the health sector.
The Minister also called for greater recognition of the “creative economy,” saying sectors such as culture, music and sports can significantly contribute to GDP.
The RAISE project, jointly financed by PKSF and the World Bank, aims to support informal sector entrepreneurs through skills training, financial assistance and employment generation initiatives.
Under the second phase of the project, an additional 200,000 young people and small entrepreneurs will receive skills development and financial support. The programme will also provide home-based childcare entrepreneurship training to 1,600 women to help increase female participation in the labour force.
Speaking at the event, PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan said around 85% of employment in Bangladesh comes from the informal sector, which contributes more than 30% to the country’s GDP.
PKSF Managing Director Md Fazlul Kader said the project has already established 15,000 learning centres nationwide under 13 programmes, with nearly 73% of trainees securing employment in their respective sectors after completing training.
World Bank Acting Divisional Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Gail H Martin said Bangladesh needs nearly two million jobs annually, while recent yearly job creation has remained around 900,000.
“Employment remains the fastest and most reliable pathway out of poverty,” she said.
Officials said the second phase of the project will prioritize young people from climate-vulnerable areas, including chars, haors, hill tracts and coastal regions, while also focusing on the inclusion of Dalit communities, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities.
