Govt spending must deliver real public benefits: Fakhrul

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday directed officials to prioritise long-term national needs, accountability and public welfare in planning and implementing development projects, saying government spending must deliver tangible improvements to people's lives.

Speaking at a review meeting at the Secretariat, Fakhrul said every stage of project formulation and implementation should focus on public interest, efficiency, transparency and long-term national priorities rather than short-term visibility or 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 an overview of ADP implementation for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, highlighting the progress of ongoing projects and identifying areas where projects could be revised or restructured.

Fakhrul said development initiatives should be assessed by their real 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 stressed the need for more realistic project planning, greater emphasis on results-based evaluation and stronger scrutiny during project preparation.

The minister also suggested revising, restructuring or merging similar projects where necessary to improve implementation efficiency.

Describing public funds as the hard-earned money of citizens, he said every taka must be spent efficiently, with greater emphasis on timely implementation, quality, cost-effectiveness and accountability.

He said the Local Government Division plays a vital 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.

Highlighting waste management as a priority, Fakhrul said modern and sustainable waste management projects are essential for building a cleaner and greener Bangladesh.

He also underscored the importance of training and research to develop skilled human resources capable of promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship, while appreciating the division's initiatives for women's development and economic empowerment.

Saki said development projects are being reviewed regularly in line with the government's policy priorities and should reflect the election manifesto and broader development agenda through restructuring where necessary.

He proposed grouping projects into thematic clusters to enable integrated monitoring, evaluation and more effective implementation.

Senior officials from the Local Government Division, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, the Planning Commission and other government agencies attended the meeting.