Interim govt's 'ambitious reforms' may be tough for next admin to accept: Adviser Wahiduddin

The interim government has undertaken "somewhat overly ambitious" reforms that may be difficult for the next elected government to accept, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud has said.

"Even if not fully adopted, the core essence of these reforms would hopefully be carried forward," he said at a press briefing following a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in Dhaka today (1 December).

The Ecnec meeting approved 17 projects with a budget of Tk15,383 crore, including two housing projects for the families affected during last year's July Uprising.

At the briefing, Wahiduddin said many major reforms are being implemented through ordinances. "Sometimes even we struggle to fully grasp their implications," he said.

"But these reforms are based on long-standing recommendations from reform committees. Our ministries have pushed forward many of these proposals," he said.

Referring to the recent ordinance establishing an independent Supreme Court secretariat, he said both the planning and the finance ministries were involved, as issues such as project implementation for the judiciary and the extent of its independence from the planning commission had to be determined.

"The new government will certainly revisit these decisions. They may find some of them uncomfortable as routine decisions by magistrates – bail, remand, sentencing – are no longer under the law ministry."

Hurry to get demands met

The adviser said the interim government is now in its final two months, facing pressure from multiple sides. "Primary school teachers are on strike. Secondary teachers are preparing to follow suit, even as annual exams are approaching…There is a perception that once the election schedule is announced, the government won't be able to act – hence these two-day ultimatums.

"It surprises me," he said. "Have we become so restless? Why do we feel that if we don't get something now, we'll never get it?"

He stressed that society, politics, teachers, and students all need to step out of this state of agitation. "We all want the country to progress. For that, we need a stable environment where students study, researchers research, planners plan. Everyone must focus on their profession."

Need to shift from foreign consultant projects

The planning adviser said Bangladesh needs to reduce reliance on foreign consultants in projects. "Many consultants come, occupy offices, receive hospitality, and leave after four years with no real output."

Wahiduddin said Bangladesh needs consultants who can provide genuine technical support, boost exports, and help modernise industries. "But their interest lies elsewhere – they focus on small loans, social issues, or policy topics like child marriage or community incentives." 

He clarified that foreign expertise is essential in certain areas such as technology development, advanced garment production, export diversification, microchips, and assembly industries. 

He also highlighted a structural problem in projects: vendor-locked software systems. "If a vendor or supplier develops software, only they can modify, fix, or update it. This creates dependency and prevents technology transfer, as local consultants cannot learn the system," he explained.

Mahmud noted that while many IT companies and Buet are now undertaking business projects domestically, international tender rules often require prior experience of around $50 million. This prevents domestic firms from competing, regardless of quality.

To address this, the government has started separating project components that can be tendered locally, giving domestic firms opportunities.

17 projects, Tk15,383cr

Ecnec today approved 17 projects with a total budget of Tk15,383 crore. It includes two major housing projects worth Tk2,106 crore to rehabilitate families affected by the 2024 July Uprising. 

One project will provide housing for martyr families in Mirpur-14, while another at Mirpur-9 for those injured during the movement. The projects are scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2029.

ECNEC also approved the Metro Rail Line-6 project at a reduced cost of Tk32,717.72 crore.

However, two projects were returned for further review. One is the Health Nutrition Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project, with a cost of Tk13,022.69 crore.

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said the project appears to prioritise foreign loan-dependent initiatives over actual health sector work.

Another returned project is a 21-storey office building in the Secretariat with a budget of Tk649 crore. Wahiduddin explained that no new buildings can be constructed on the current Secretariat site, as the location may no longer serve as the government secretariat.