Each MP to get Tk20cr allocation

The government this year will allocate Tk20 crore to each of the parliament members for the development of road infrastructure in their respective constituencies, like it does once in every five years after assuming power. 

A total of Tk5,600 crore will be allocated to MPs from 280 constituencies of the country, excluding parliamentary seats in city corporation areas.

Lawmakers in the city corporation areas have been receiving allocation under a separate scheme for the same purpose.

However, the allocated money will not be given directly to the MPs. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) will develop the road infrastructure as per the demand of the MPs.

The cost of the project titled "Third Important Rural Infrastructure Development Project on Priority Basis" including project management expenditure has been estimated at Tk6,479.65 crore. The project is scheduled to be complete by June 2024, said sources at the LGED.

According to the project proposal, remote rural areas' communication facilities with growth centres, health centres, education centres will be improved.

At the same time, modern urban facilities will be expanded in rural areas. This project will create short and long term employment opportunities.

The project will be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for its approval in its next meeting on Sunday, said officials of the Planning Commission.

Earlier during its 2009-2014 tenure, the Awami League government allocated Tk15 crore to each MP for infrastructure development in their respective constituencies.

In the following term, the allocation was increased to Tk20 crore. The total cost of the second important rural infrastructure development project on priority basis was estimated at Tk6,076.44 crore.

As of February this year, Tk5,452.37 crore of the project has been spent. The project that started in July 2015 will end in June 2021. Only Tk5 crore has been allocated for the second important rural infrastructure development project in the next fiscal year.

According to the project proposal, construction of 305 kilometres of upazila roads, development of 360 kilometres of union roads, development of 5,075 kilometres of rural roads, maintenance of 1,090 kilometres of rural roads and constructions of 7,992 metres of bridges and culverts will be done under the third important rural infrastructure development project on a priority basis. This project is also expected to provide short-term and long-term employment.

Zakir Hossain Akand, member of the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institution Division under the Planning Commission, said, "It is a need based project. The LGED will do the work as per the demand of MPs. Although the project has started now, it will take eight or nine months to start work after receiving demand from lawmakers."

"For this reason, the third infrastructure project is being sent to the Ecnec even before completion of the second rural infrastructure project," he added.