One of the crucial elements to ensuring our continued development in the coming years is a dedication within the various governmental bodies to ensure implementation and completion of plans and projects necessary to bring about meaningful change in the lives of the people.
From giant infrastructural projects such as the Padma Bridge and the Metro Rapid Transit system to smaller projects which involve fixing roads and improving internet services, if things are not carried out satisfactorily and within the specified deadline, it is the people who suffer.
How many promising projects have thus been found to be disappointing, scrapped, or in certain cases caused suffering and loss of life when these were problems that could have easily been fixed by a public institution that was held accountable, and prioritized efficiency over bureaucracy?
But a recent news story by the Dhaka Tribune reveals the extent of this problem: Two major departments within the government, namely Bangladesh Railway and the Department of Roads and Highways, both responsible for key infrastructural improvements, have applied for deadline extensions for a combined total of 109 projects last month.
These projects are using thousands of crores of taxpayer money to ensure completion, and it is about time that those in charge of ensuring completion of projects were first, required to provide justifiable reasons for the delay and second, if found to be unjustified, were held accountable through a process that would not cause further delay to the project, thereby causing further public suffering.
While it is encouraging to note that the Planning Commission and Implementing Monitoring and Evaluation Division have sent back requests for deadline extension seeking proper explanation, what we would like to see is actual pressure to ensure that such deadlines are not merely par for the course, and have actual consequences on the ones responsible.
Having higher standards in this regard is essential to ensuring efficiency in governance, essential as it is for creating trust within the public and sustainable development in the future.
