Palak’s Spending Review: Tk 7,000cr can be saved on 21 ICT projects

An interim government review has identified significant wastage in ICT projects under the previous Awami League-led government, led by state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak. Of Tk18,600 crore allocated for 21 projects, Tk7,000 crore could be saved by cutting unnecessary, inflated, or redundant expenses. Plans included IT parks, digital villages, Cineplexes, and films glorifying Sheikh Hasina, many deemed irrelevant or poorly conceived. Two major foreign-funded projects—EDC and EDGE—are under scrutiny for inflated costs, including overpriced equipment and poorly utilized infrastructure. Training programs and women empowerment projects also lacked transparency and effectiveness. Some projects were halted, saving Tk1,800 crore, with audits underway to address irregularities. Despite a Tk25,000 crore ICT budget, Bangladesh lags behind in digital readiness, raising concerns over poor planning and execution.