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The proposed document will include recommendations on reforms needed to expedite implementation, the monitoring and evaluation process, and methods for ensuring inter-ministerial coordination.

In addition, the document emphasises ensuring the free flow of information.

“In the past, there was a culture of concealing information,” Titumir said, adding that making data available will allow university teachers, students, and researchers to analyse whether the actual results of the projects are consistent with the government’s claims.

He said they aim to reorganise the entire process anew, beginning from project selection, to ensure that projects align with the public mandate rather than being used for distributing patronage.

“The most important matter is that these projects are undertaken with the tax money of the public. The public wants to see where their tax money is being spent and wants to hold the government accountable. That is why we want to ensure the free flow of information so that people can make decisions in their own way.”

He concluded that the Planning Commission and the Planning Ministry were rendered virtually powerless in the past, remarking that the main task of the ministry had dwindled to quickly approving projects below Tk 50 crore.