Seven Mega Projects Exceed Budgets by Tk 80,569 Crore

The interim government will abolish the rule canceling tenders with bids exceeding 10% of the estimated price to combat corruption, dismantle syndicates, and promote fair competition in public procurement. This decision, announced during a meeting chaired by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, aligns with World Bank conditions for budget support and aims to encourage new bidders.

The Planning Ministry's taskforce on sustainable development, led by KAS Murshid, former director general of BIDS, has drafted a report addressing economic challenges outlined in the recently published white paper. The report includes short and mid-term recommendations for achieving economic stability and moderate growth, set to be presented this month.

A government taskforce has decided to probe money laundering and other alleged misdeeds by 10 major business groups in Bangladesh. Ten separate inter-agency teams, comprising members from the Anti-Corruption Commission, National Board of Revenue, and Criminal Investigation Department, will be formed to investigate the allegations.

Business leaders, economists, and professionals emphasize the need for an elected government to restore business confidence, stabilize law and order, and revitalize the investment climate in Bangladesh.

Researchers and experts have launched "Bangladesh Development Insights (BDI)," a platform to promote evidence-based policymaking in Bangladesh. BDI aims to bridge the gap between research and decision-making by offering articles, podcasts, videos, and literature reviews to inform policies and public discussions.

The interim government has signed a $100 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen the Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited Project. Running from 2024 to 2029, the project aims to mobilize private financing for public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects.