Three of the projects under the annual development programme are Sheikh Hasina University in Netrakona, Sheikh Zahurul Haque Rural Development Academy in Jashore and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre in Khulna.
Another scheme is for the procurement of six open-headed tourist buses for the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.
"The tenure of such projects has expired and the government decided not to extend time. Again, some of the projects having implementation tenure are also being suspended," said a high official concerned.
The planning ministry and implementing agencies are also searching for such unnecessary and politically motivated projects to cancel, according to him.
The costs of the projects in question were initially estimated more than Tk 34.17 billion, which was fully supported from the state coffers. Winding up these projects before completion has mitigated fiscal pressure by way of immediately saving Tk 27.44 billion.
However, experts and economists argue that terminating these projects prematurely will deprive potential beneficiaries of their intended benefits.
They say a significant portion of the budget already spent on these projects might have been wasted, warning that partially completed buildings and materials could gather dust if left unfinished.
"The projects are being cancelled midway because they were undertaken without assessing the actual needs of the people and the government's capacity to implement them," said Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, former director -general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.
Many of these projects lacked proper feasibility study. The names of influential family members were used to facilitate their approval and funding, making it easier to exploit public resources, he added.
Dr Mujeri called for identifying and cancelling politically motivated projects and also for ensuring accountability of those involved in initiating them.
Officials said the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division of the Planning Commission conducted a meeting of the project evaluation committee (PEC) to end the academy project in Jashore halfway through.
The project, initiated in 2022, involving Tk 1.99 billion, was programmed for completion by January 2025. So far, Tk 269.49 million has been spent.
The academy in Monirampur, Jashore, was undertaken as a tribute to Sheikh Zahurul Haque, the grandfather of deposed premier Hasina and father of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa.
Chairing the PEC meeting, Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, member of the Commission, said such a situation could have been avoided had feasibility studies, potential outcomes and optimal use of invested funds been thoroughly considered before undertaking the projects.
He highlighted the importance of conducting proper surveys to ensure viability.
Another official suggests reviewing the past projects executed by the Rural Development and Cooperatives Department, particularly those aimed at establishing development academies, training academies or similar entities.
As the activities of two long-standing academies -- BARD in Comilla and RDA in Bogura -- are well-documented, the contributions of the recently established ones in Gopalganj, Jamalpur and Rangpur remain less visible.
As Gopalganj Training Complex is only 70 kilometres from Jashore, he suggests that related training and development activities in Jashore region be efficiently conducted from the Gopalganj facility in order to eliminate the need for redundant infrastructure.
Meanwhile, planning adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud discarded a project taken for the procurement of tourist coaches after a waste of Tk 0.72 million.
The project was initiated in 2020 at Tk 271.8 million with an eye to carrying tourists from home and abroad to attractive tourist spots.
Officials said tender was invited for the project several times but no party submitted any proposal. So, the previous government itself decided to conclude the project.
The Commission extended the tenure of the 'Establishment of Sheikh Hasina University, Netrakona', project up to this December ignoring a proposal for extending it up to June 2027.
The first revised cost was set at Tk 6.46 billion, which was only 24.48 per cent of the original project cost of Tk 26.37 billion.
The project sought to develop a modern campus through setting up 12 residential buildings worth Tk 5.21 billion, 17 non-residential structures worth Tk 7.91 billion and some other infrastructures.
However, the revised project will not help complete any academic or administrative building.
The administrative and academic activities of the university have been continuing on the premises of the Technical Training Centre since 2017.
The current status of the project makes it difficult to shift activities to own campus by January, according to Dr Mohammad Harun-Or-Rashid, registrar, Sheikh Hasina University, Netrakona.
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