FROM PAGE B1

The Medical Education and Family Welfare Division utilised only 1.8 percent of its allocation, while the Health Services Division spent just 3.92 percent during the period.

By contrast, several other ministries recorded comparatively stronger execution.

The Ministry of Science and Technology led with an implementation rate of 27.42 percent, followed by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources at 21 percent and the Local Government Division at 20.10 percent.

Planning ministry officials attributed the overall slowdown to austerity measures and the lingering effects of political uncertainty following the events of August 5 last year, which disrupted project implementation.

They said the interim government has delayed or postponed a number of projects initiated by the previous administration due to budgetary constraints.

Officials also noted that several contractors involved in development projects left the country after the political transition, abandoning work midway and further slowing implementation.

On December 1, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud voiced frustration over the situation, saying, “We are not speeding up the ADP execution rate.”

He pointed out that many government officials are now reluctant to serve as project directors, while contractors have become less interested in participating in development projects following reforms to public procurement rules.

According to Mahmud, the interim government’s reforms have made procurement more transparent by dismantling monopolistic practices and requiring contractors to disclose full business and tax information.

“We could not speed up project implementation as nobody wants to become a project director now, and contractors are also less enthusiastic,” he said.