ADB unhappy at delay in project implementation
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
FHM Humayan Kabir
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed dissatisfaction at the delay in project implementation, especially in energy and communications sectors, as it has reviewed 90 ongoing projects to be bankrolled with US$ 4.53 billion, officials said Monday.
Finance ministry officials said a review team from the headquarters of the Manila-based lender at a wrap-up meeting last week warned the government over the delay in the implementing development projects under its funding.
"The ADB has asked the government project implementing agencies to prepare an action plan for the lagging projects," a senior finance ministry official told the FE.
The government agencies have prepared the action plan for the delayed projects, which would be reviewed in March next year, he added.
"We have assured ADB of beginning the delayed projects soon," a top economic relations division (ERD) official told the FE.
The Bangladesh government, ADB and the government project executing agencies jointly reviewed the ongoing projects, to be provided with $4.22 billion loan.
The senior ERD official said the ADB portfolio review team was very dissatisfied with the delay in the start of the projects in communications and energy sectors.
The ADB mission has also urged the government to complete the process of approving the development project proposals.
"Except approval of the project proposals by the proper government authorities, the ADB will not finance the schemes from now on," he said.
The Manila-based lender, the second largest multilateral donor of Bangladesh, provides nearly one billion funds a year.
An ADB official in Dhaka told the FE that at the project review meeting, "we have detected several bottlenecks and constraints in the ongoing development projects."
"We have prepared an action plan for the backlogged projects, which would be reviewed again in March next year," he said.
Since 1973, ADB has provided $11.15 billion for 199 loans, while technical assistance grants of $195.83 million for 374 projects till August 2010.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed dissatisfaction at the delay in project implementation, especially in energy and communications sectors, as it has reviewed 90 ongoing projects to be bankrolled with US$ 4.53 billion, officials said Monday.
Finance ministry officials said a review team from the headquarters of the Manila-based lender at a wrap-up meeting last week warned the government over the delay in the implementing development projects under its funding.
"The ADB has asked the government project implementing agencies to prepare an action plan for the lagging projects," a senior finance ministry official told the FE.
The government agencies have prepared the action plan for the delayed projects, which would be reviewed in March next year, he added.
"We have assured ADB of beginning the delayed projects soon," a top economic relations division (ERD) official told the FE.
The Bangladesh government, ADB and the government project executing agencies jointly reviewed the ongoing projects, to be provided with $4.22 billion loan.
The senior ERD official said the ADB portfolio review team was very dissatisfied with the delay in the start of the projects in communications and energy sectors.
The ADB mission has also urged the government to complete the process of approving the development project proposals.
"Except approval of the project proposals by the proper government authorities, the ADB will not finance the schemes from now on," he said.
The Manila-based lender, the second largest multilateral donor of Bangladesh, provides nearly one billion funds a year.
An ADB official in Dhaka told the FE that at the project review meeting, "we have detected several bottlenecks and constraints in the ongoing development projects."
"We have prepared an action plan for the backlogged projects, which would be reviewed again in March next year," he said.
Since 1973, ADB has provided $11.15 billion for 199 loans, while technical assistance grants of $195.83 million for 374 projects till August 2010.