Photo: MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

The positive implications that arise from the completion of these mega-projects are enormous

There is no doubt that Bangladesh is at a turning point in its journey as a nation, with middle-income status and shedding its tag of being a Least Developed Nation (LDC) close to being within our grasp.

Our development and infrastructure projects are indeed a major factor for our accelerated growth, and their continued importance for our upward trajectory cannot be questioned.

To that end, it is important to pay heed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent words, where she has asked for more development projects -- particularly mega-projects -- to be monitored under the watch of the Fast Track Monitoring Committee.

Already, 10 existing projects are being monitored by the committee -- including mega-projects such as the construction of the Padma Bridge and the Rooppur Power Plant -- but, as the PM noted, there is scope for the committee to bring in more projects under their watch.

Efficient and timely implementation of such projects has been a problem for Bangladesh in the past; too often, bureaucracy, red tape, and a culture of negligence bog them down, resulting in significant delays at best and indefinite halts at worst.

This cannot be the norm moving forward. 

The positive implications that arise from the completion of these mega-projects are enormous, and is set to benefit the citizens of this country from all walks of life.

Therefore, it is imperative that the government and all relevant stakeholders not fall prey to previous habits of delay and continue with their steadfast approach. This new decade should see Bangladesh eliminate its issues with effective implementation once and for all.