Past plans became ‘dead documents’ after approval: Titumir

The country’s previous planning frameworks largely turned into “dead documents” immediately after approval due to the absence of effective implementation measures, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said today (14 May).

“Past governments adopted unrealistic projects driven by patronage, inflated costs and weak planning structures, putting pressure on the economy”, he said at the second meeting of the committee on economic strategy formulation at NEC Conference Room in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

He said the current government has started reassessing such projects and moving towards revised decisions aligned with expert recommendations.

According to the adviser, structural weaknesses in the previous planning process severely undermined implementation efficiency.

He cited repeated project revisions, delays in execution, failure to appoint project directors on time and the recurring “June syndrome” – referring to rushed spending at the end of the fiscal year-as major reasons behind ineffective planning.

Titumir also outlined four major reforms under the new planning framework.

First, the project selection or “programming” process is being restructured to align with public priorities and electoral mandates.

Second, regular monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will be strengthened to ensure effective tracking of project implementation.

Third, the government will ensure free flow of information so that researchers, academics and citizens can independently assess the actual progress of projects.

Fourth, the entire planning process will be made more citizen-centric and accountable.

He said transparency is essential in projects funded by taxpayers’ money, adding that open access to information would enable citizens to compare government claims with actual outcomes, thereby strengthening accountability and the rule of law.

The adviser also said the government’s new economic strategy aims to build a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

To achieve the target, sector-based plans, specific strategies and measurable indicators are being developed, he added.

Titumir said the Planning Commission often functioned as a “rubber stamp” institution in the past, but initiatives are now underway to transform it into an effective policy-making body.

Under the new framework, macroeconomic and sector-specific targets will be set first, followed by project selection in line with those goals, he said.

He further claimed that the new planning process is fully participatory, incorporating feedback from economists, researchers, business leaders and civil society representatives.

The government has also collected 180-day action plans, annual plans and five-year plans from different ministries to create an integrated framework, he said.

Priorities derived from public votes and election manifestos have now been translated into the government’s economic agenda, aiming to build a humane, democratic and welfare-oriented state, Titumir added.