Rural economy in focus amid stalled project scrutiny

Strengthening the rural economy is on new government's "top priority", even as more than 1,800 development projects from previous administrations remain under the scanner over poor implementation and alleged corruption, says the finance minister.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury Monday apprised parliament of their government's policies and programmes on economy, finance and external trade.

Khosru said over 500 projects had failed to achieve even 10-percent progress, while around 1,300 others were being reassessed due to concerns about wastage and irregularities.

The disclosures, he notes, were based on official records, though he wouldn't comment further on decisions taken by previous governments.

"If we want to strengthen the rural economy and improve living standards, our first priority must be rural infrastructure," the minister told lawmakers, adding that future projects would be "practical and people-oriented", aimed directly at improving livelihoods in villages.

The finance and planning minister encouraged members of parliament to propose locally beneficial initiatives, assuring that feasible projects aligned with development goals would be considered for implementation.

In a separate exchange, Khosru highlighted mounting pressure on Bangladesh's labour market, revealing that an average of 1.36 million people aged 15 and above join the workforce each year, according to the 2024 Labour Force Survey.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com