Economists and business leaders at a seminar here on Wednesday laid emphasis on identifying problems behind the slow progress of the PPP plan and prioritising projects under it to ensure maximum success in project implementation.
They said it would be better to go ahead with hopes and solutions without getting frustrated but Build-Operate-Transfer and Build-Own Operate-Transfer can also be considered actively for mega project implementation maintaining accountability and transparency.
Dhaka School of Economics, a constituent institution of the Dhaka University, arranged the seminar titled ‘Public-Private Partnership in Bangladesh’ at the auditorium of Bangladesh Economic Association in the city.
Former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, BEA general secretary Toufiq Ahmad Choudhury, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry director Abdul Haque and former Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association president
Anwarul Alam Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the seminar.
Prime Minister’s Office director general Mahmudur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the seminar held with chairman of the governing council and director of DSoE Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in the chair.
‘We’ve to identify options on the basis of project nature and size. Ultimately, we should go for that option which is most viable,’ said the former BGMEA chief.
Expressing frustration over delay in Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane project, he said only 36 per cent of the total project has been implemented over the last eight years.
He said PPP is successful where there is political stability, stable government and where continuation of policies is ensured. ‘We lack proper infrastructure. We’ve electricity crisis and we don’t have proper connectivity facility. These issues need to be addressed.’
Qazi Kholiquzzaman said the country belongs to all and all will have to work together. ‘We shouldn’t highlight only the negative aspects. We’ll have to be hopeful. Only then we can go forward,’ he said.
The economist also said all the problems would have to be identified first. Then steps should be taken setting priorities.
Toufiq Ahmad said it was the government’s failure that it could not make PPP operational even after taking so much time.
He said PPP was important for curbing corruption in the public sector and private management was needed in implementing government projects.
‘We don’t want PPP in all sectors. We don’t want health and education sectors under PPP. But we want PPP in infrastructure,’ Toufiq Ahmad said.
Mahmudur Rahman said there was nothing to be frustrated, and mentioned that many problems would get resolved once PPP Law was in place.
He laid emphasis on improving the investment climate for attracting private investment by cutting redtapism and streamlining the existing procedures.
Mahmudur Rahman also said PPP should not be considered as mere means of reducing public expenditure and the costs and benefits of each PPP should be rigorously analysed to ensure the value for money.
-With UNB/New Age input
