Bangladesh currently has around 1,300 ongoing development projects, all of which were initiated during the previous Awami League government. However, many of these major projects remain incomplete, as the ruling party was ousted following a mass uprising of students and the public. Since the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus took office on August 8, 2024, progress on these projects has been slow, with some stalled entirely and others moving at a sluggish pace.

In an exclusive interview with Somoy Sangbad, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that nearly all mega projects under the Awami League were plagued by corruption and poor planning. He said the interim government is currently reviewing and adjusting these projects by cutting unnecessary expenses, revising designs, and changing contractors based on technical and financial assessments—leading to the current delays.

Despite the challenges, the government is committed to completing the cost-intensive mega projects to avoid further financial loss. Some projects have already overcome initial complications and resumed full-scale operations, expected to be completed on time. Among the reviewed projects are the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Payra Deep Sea Port, and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which are set to become fully active by mid-fiscal year.

Mahmud also confirmed that a new agreement has been signed with JICA after completing technical evaluations for the MRT Line-6 extension from Motijheel to Kamalapur. Work on MRT Line-5 is also underway. To ensure transparency and efficiency, the Planning Ministry is strengthening the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), granting it broader authority for site inspections and corrective action when irregularities are found.