‘Delays increase costs’: Home minister orders time-bound completion of projects

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (17 September) said delays in implementing development projects directly increase costs and ordered officials to set time-bound targets for completing them on schedule.

He also urged officials to quickly prepare Development Project Proposals (DPPs) for new and revised projects.

The minister gave the directives at a review meeting on ongoing development projects under the home ministry and unauthorised projects listed in the “Green Pages” of the Annual Development Programme for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The meeting was held at the home ministry today, reads a press release.

“Unnecessary delays in project implementation are not acceptable in any way,” the minister said, highlighting the need to set time-based targets for each project and complete the work within the stipulated period.

He also emphasised ensuring transparency and accountability in project implementation.

‘No delays in general infrastructure work’

Discussing prison-related projects, Salahuddin said some disruption to the pace of such work could be understandable due to security and movement restrictions.

He also said there should be no delay in general civil works or infrastructure projects.

He instructed officials to complete such projects within their scheduled deadlines, including the construction of the headquarters of the Special Response Battalion (SRB).

Faster implementation of drug-control projects

The home minister also called for strict enforcement of the Narcotics Control Act and quick implementation of drug-control projects.

These include establishing dog squads in every district, strengthening drug-testing facilities, renovating lock-ups and warehouses, and setting up modern forensic laboratories and digital forensic facilities at the district level.

The meeting also discussed plans to turn police stations in rural areas into standard “Model Police Stations” using a specific prototype design.

In areas where suitable land is scarce, the minister called for quick land acquisition and a single integrated project.

Officials also discussed coordinated measures to address shortages of logistics and vehicles among law enforcement agencies.

Planning state minister seeks cluster approach

Planning State Minister Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, who attended the meeting, called for a “Programmatic or Cluster Approach” instead of separate projects to maximise the benefits of government-funded development work and avoid duplication.

He also called for the re-evaluation and re-scoping of ongoing projects to achieve visible progress during the remaining four to four and a half years of the current government’s tenure.

Tk2,662cr allocated for public order and security

The government has allocated Tk2,662.05 crore in the Annual Development Programme for the FY26-27 for development in the “Public Order and Security” sector.

Of the allocation, Tk2,552.08 crore will come from government financing, while Tk109.97 crore will be provided through project loans and grants.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said it is working towards building a “Secure and Peaceful Bangladesh.”

As part of this effort, the ministry said it has completed mapping 26 commitments under its jurisdiction in line with the ruling party’s election manifesto.

The ministry also said it is committed to strengthening the law-and-order sector through transformational development under the “3R Strategy” — Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction — outlined in the government’s Five-Year Economic Reform and Development Strategy for July 2026 to June 2031.

Senior officials of the home ministry, heads of 10 departments and agencies under the ministry, and project directors concerned attended the meeting.