The recently submitted white paper on financial corruption and irregularities during the ousted Awami League regime has revealed an alarming state of mismanagement in infrastructure project implementation. This detailed investigation brings forth the tale of how large-scale development projects were undertaken without adequate consultation with the industry or civil society, resulting in inflated costs, wastage of resources, and questionable outcomes. The findings underscore the urgent need for collaborative approaches to ensure effective infrastructure development in Bangladesh.
The white paper committee reviewed seven out of 29 large projects, each with expenditures exceeding Tk 100 billion. These seven projects, initially estimated at Tk 1.14 trillion, saw their costs rise dramatically to Tk 1.95 trillion. This 70 per cent increase was attributed to manipulations, including inflated land prices and unnecessary components being added to justify higher expenditures.
Civil society plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability while advocating for public interests. Previously, major projects were undertaken without consulting civil society to avoid interventions that could potentially expose the corrupt intentions of those in power. These interventions might have downsized their inflated costs, disrupting their plans to misappropriate public funds through irrational projects.
It was even found that some donors rejected project proposals after identifying them as wasteful and unlikely to yield significant benefits. For instance, the previous government submitted a proposal to build the Teesta Barrage to China. However, the proposal failed to pass Chinese evaluation because it included numerous unnecessary components designed to inflate the project's overall cost.
This situation highlights a systemic problem: a lack of coordination among the key stakeholders-government, industry, and civil society. Without their collective input, infrastructure projects are susceptible to inefficiency, corruption, and waste. The time has come to address this gap and recognise that collaboration is not merely desirable; it is essential for Bangladesh's sustainable development.
Projects initiated without consulting industry experts or civil society often lack practical insights, leading to cost overruns and subpar outcomes. For instance, the white paper revealed that past projects were designed to exclude civil society input, fearing that it would expose inflated costs and prevent exploitative practices.
The private sector brings technical expertise, innovative solutions, and investment opportunities to infrastructure development. Industry players can offer valuable insights into project feasibility, cost management, and efficiency. Yet, as the white paper shows, the previous regime sidelined industry experts, resulting in irrational projects that failed to deliver their intended benefits. A notable example is the Teesta Barrage proposal, which was rejected by China for including unnecessary components to artificially inflate costs.
Industry stakeholders, on the other hand, must be encouraged to participate actively in project planning and implementation. Their involvement can bring valuable insights into cost control and resource optimisation, making projects more efficient and impactful.
Civil society must also be empowered to play its role in monitoring and advocacy. Open dialogues and consultations with civil society groups can identify potential issues early, ensuring that projects meet the needs of local communities and align with long-term development goals.
Collaboration must be institutionalised at every stage of infrastructure development-from project conception to execution and evaluation. The interim government has a unique opportunity to set a precedence for inclusive governance by ensuring fair competition, transparency, and public accountability in awarding and implementing projects.
Bangladesh's infrastructure development is critical to its economic growth and global competitiveness.
This is the moment for Bangladesh to learn from its past and build a future where development is not just about building bridges and roads but also about strengthening trust, accountability, and inclusivity.
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