Dev spending lowest in 5yrs

Government agencies could spend 28.45 per cent or Tk 61,048 crore allocated for development projects in July-January of the current fiscal year -- the lowest in the last five years, according to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED).

Spending on development projects fell 11 per cent year-on-year to Tk 61,048 crore in the first seven months of the fiscal year, a result of the government's go-slow approach towards low priority schemes.

Expenditure from the state coffer dropped by 16 per cent year-on-year to Tk 39,342 crore in this fiscal year's July-January period, when the pandemic-induced economic slowdown affected revenue collection.

Spending from foreign funds also declined marginally during the period. The government allocateed Tk  214,611 crore to spend for development projects for the fiscal year 2020-21.

The religious affairs ministry fared best in terms of implementation of projects under the annual development programme (ADP).

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) under the finance ministry was the worst performer.

The religious affairs ministry could spend 74 per cent of Tk 884 crore of the development schemes for the ongoing fiscal year that will end in June.

The IRD spent only 1.80 per cent of the allocation of Tk 438 crore in the same period.

Of the top 10 ministries and divisions that account for 72 per cent of the total ADP outlay for the current fiscal year, power division performed best while health services division was the worst in terms of expenditure.

The power division used up 38 per cent of Tk 27,297 crore allocated for development projects for the fiscal year.

The health services division could spend only 17 per cent of the total outlay of Tk 9,736 crore.