Enough with the project irregularities

We are tired of writing in these columns about cases of time and cost overruns, which seem to have become the norm when it comes to the development projects in Bangladesh. We can only imagine how exhausting it is for the relevant authorities to constantly issue warnings to ministries, departments and officials responsible for these irregularities—only for that to fall on deaf ears.

Despite repeated requests and warnings from the prime minister herself—who, in February this year, directed the authorities to take legal action against those responsible for flawed project designs that ultimately push up costs—not much seems to have changed. On Tuesday, a parliamentary watchdog came down heavily on the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) over the irregularities reported in different development projects, including slow implementation, repeated extensions of deadlines, and consequent increase in project costs.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Estimates sought explanations as to why RTHD projects in the Dhaka, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Gopalganj zones were not implemented on time, and why their durations were increased repeatedly. It is astounding to learn that, in most cases, the officials did not even respond properly to the concerns raised. According to a report published by this daily, they tried to deflect by explaining that deadline extensions did not lead to increased expenditures. But why do such extensions continue to be asked for? Data suggests that in the last fiscal year alone, more than 300 projects sought time extensions. This state of affairs is not acceptable.

We are equally disappointed to hear that the only action that the committee took was to request the RTHD to submit a report explaining the reasons for extending the duration of nine incomplete projects in the Dhaka zone. How many more such reports will be submitted while these projects drag on, wasting crucial taxpayers' resources and depriving citizens of their expected benefits?

The need of the hour is accountability, and that will not come out of writing endless reports. It is high time that the legal action mentioned by the prime minister earlier this year is actually taken against officials who are responsible for project delays and cost overruns. If strong actions are not taken to enforce accountability, there will be no changes in the culture of delay in publicly funded projects that has currently become the norm in Bangladesh.