LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday instructed officials to prioritise long-term national needs, accountability and public welfare in the planning and implementation of development projects, stressing that public spending must translate into tangible improvements in people's lives, reports UNB.
Speaking at a review meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the minister said every stage of project formulation and implementation should prioritise public interest, efficiency, transparency and long-term national objectives rather than short-term visibility or political popularity.
The meeting reviewed ongoing projects and unapproved new schemes included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2026-27 fiscal year under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division.
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki attended the meeting as the special guest.
Officials presented updates on ADP implementation for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, outlining progress on ongoing projects and identifying initiatives that could be revised, restructured or merged to improve efficiency. The minister said development initiatives should be assessed by their impact on people's quality of life rather than the construction of visible infrastructure alone.
"We must formulate development plans with a vision of where we want the country to stand in the next five, 10 or even 50 years," he said.
He called for more realistic project planning, greater emphasis on results-based evaluation and stricter scrutiny during project preparation. He also suggested revising, restructuring or consolidating similar projects where necessary to enhance implementation efficiency.
Describing public funds as the hard-earned money of citizens, the minister said every taka must be spent prudently, with greater emphasis on timely implementation, quality, cost-effectiveness and accountability.
He noted that the Local Government Division plays a critical role in infrastructure development, safe water supply, sanitation, waste management, strengthening local government institutions, rural development and employment generation.
, urging officials to discharge their responsibilities with greater dedication and professionalism.
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