CA asks ministries to start working on at least one task force recommendation during his tenure

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has instructed each ministry to begin implementing at least one short-term and feasible recommendation made by the task force during the interim government's tenure.

To build a fair, sustainable, and dynamic economy, each ministry must now initiate at least one actionable recommendation, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said today citing the chief adviser.

The chief adviser issued the directive at the Advisory Council meeting on Thursday when he was presented with the task force report, said Adviser Mahmud. 

Providing an example, he said, "One of the recommendations is to create another organisation to make Biman profitable, with the management responsibility assigned to a foreign company."

This recommendation can be implemented by the civil aviation ministry, he said. Similarly, each ministry will select one recommendation from the task force to begin implementation. 

However, the respective ministry will decide which recommendation to prioritise, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Yunus yesterday shared a post on Facebook yesterday evening highlighting a key task force recommendation: transitioning to a single-operator bus franchise in Dhaka. 

The post said the recommendation aims to unify bus services under one provider, with drivers on fixed salaries instead of commissions. This approach will improve efficiency, increase ridership, and create a more reliable and user-friendly public transport system.

The 12-member task force was formed on 10 September to reframe the development strategies, find out leakages in the financial system and restore discipline in project implementation.

The task force report is titled "Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilising Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development". Yesterday's press conference was organised to highlight the recommendations made to the government in the report.

Now ideal time for implementation 

KAS Murshid, head of the 12-member task force, said many initiatives face challenges in implementation. "However, political obstacles are now less of a concern, making it an ideal time to move forward with these recommendations."

Highlighting several key recommendations, Murshid said the task force's focus was on ensuring quality public services for citizens, especially as public hospitals and other services have been failing to meet the needs of the people. 

He also pointed out the urgent need for reforms in these sectors to improve service delivery.

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud also said people's welfare is paramount, with significant reforms needed across public services like healthcare, law enforcement, and civil services. 

Ban on student politics

In response to why student politics was recommended for banning, task force chief Murshid said the type of politics seen in educational institutions over the past 50 years has been unproductive and has led to corruption. 

He noted that student politics, based on party affiliations, is unique to South Asia and is absent in civilised countries worldwide. 

"Students should be vocal about social issues and contribute to the nation's progress, but within a constructive framework," he said, suggesting a need for more organised avenues for student participation.

Planning Adviser Mahmud supported the ban, citing the positive impact of university authorities' control over dormitories, which has allowed for better student accommodation. 

He said anyone over 18 should be allowed to engage in politics, but institutions must enforce a code of conduct. He cited Oxford and Cambridge as examples of universities with conduct rules, suggesting that similar guidelines should be implemented here.

Governance, economy, central bank

The task force has recommended the establishment of a regulatory reform commission to ensure good governance in the economy and business sectors. 

KAS Murshid expressed concern over the persistence of extortion in various sectors, stating that while the government has the intention to tackle it, the steps suggested may not immediately end the practice.

However, starting the process could pave the way for more effective strategies in the future, he said.

Task force member and Dhaka University professor, Selim Raihan, emphasised the need for diversifying exports beyond ready-made garments (RMG) and addressing the skill gap in the workforce. 

He also suggested focusing on three key economic zones for successful implementation, despite the government's previous plan for 100 zones.

Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD and task force member, highlighted the need to strengthen governance in commercial banks. 

She pointed out that prioritizing family interests had weakened banks over time and recommended changes to the loan disbursement process. 

The task force also proposed restoring the autonomy of the Bangladesh Bank, shutting down the Ministry of Financial Institutions to eliminate dual administration, and making commercial banks publish updated financial information.

Professor Shamsul Haque identified poor feasibility studies as a major cause of cost overruns in development projects. He recommended blacklisting institutions with poor feasibility studies to ensure better project planning in the future.