Part 6: Project planning and management practices and culture in Bangladesh

1. Part 6: Project planning and management practices and culture in Bangladesh Professor NIAZ AHMED KHAN, Ph.D. (Wales) University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Wales, UK

2. The Planning Process in Bangladesh: Key Activities and Institutional Responsibilities Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan

3. Basic Structural Arrangement of Development Planning in Bangladesh Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan

4. Key Institutional Arrangements in the Planning Process in Bangladesh • National Economic Council (NEC): guidance and direction regarding national policies; highest council for dev planning; sets long term vision and target of planning. • Executive Committee of NEC (ECNEC): Executing council for NEC-guided/decided policies; headed by PM; reviews and approves nationally important projects; assesses national economic situation and sectoral policies; set prices of public utilities etc. • Ministry of Planning (MoP) and Planning Commission (PC): PC is the Central Planning Agency; prepares national, long term, PRSP and perspective plans; houses 6 Sector Divisions: general economics; agriculture, water resources and rural institutions; energy and industry; programme; physical infrastructure; socio-economic infrastructure • Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED): Under the MoP, IMED is responsible for ensuring smooth implementation and monitoring of ADP projects; act as the Central M&E Agency. • Statistics Division: Under the MoP, Stat Div, through the Bangladesh Statistical Bureau, provides statistical/information backstopping support to the planning process. • Economic Relations Div (ERD): Under Ministry of Finance, ERD seeks and negotiates foreign assistance for projects. Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan

5. Key Institutional Arrangements in the Planning Process in Bangladesh (Continued..) • Project Evaluation Committees (PEC): PEC in PC examine proposals and recommend to Planning Minister or ECNEC. • Departmental PEC: Every Ministry/Div has a DPEC to consider A type projects sponsored by itself/ its agencies. • Special PEC: appraise, recommends, approves TA projects. • Project Classification: Types based on: • ‘magnitude of investment’: A, B and C; • ‘project benefits’: X (self sustaining, directly productive, earns revenue to sustain), Y (productive but non-revenue earning), Z (Service sector projects); • ‘Priority’: Core and Non-core Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan

6. Critical factors affecting project planning and management Positive Factors (relating to the general Bangladeshi culture and administrative behaviour in Bangladesh) • Receptiveness to learning • Cultural heritage nurturing intellectual development and learning • Warmness and hospitality • Untapped human resources • Adoptability and flexibility of the workforce Negative Factors • Low consciousness of time • Centralization of authority • Procedural formalities • Inadequate number of competent project managers • Inadequate technical skills and expertise in PM • Absence of a reward and punishment • Hesitance in decision making Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan

7. A selection of sample problems in Project Planning and Management in Bangladesh Pre-project/Conceptual Stage • Delay in submission • Improper preparation of proposal • Inappropriate contracts • Proposals prepared by external agencies, not by project authorities • Delay in approval Resource Mobilization Stage • Delay in fund release from the government • Delay in tapping foreign funds • Delay in agreement with donors • Inclusion of projects far in excess of resource available • Shortage of skilled HR • Various governmental restrictions (ban of procuring vehicles, construction of residential building • Procedural delay on the part of the donors • Frequent change in project leadership Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan

8. A selection of sample problems in Project Planning and Management in Bangladesh (continued..) Implementation Stage • Procurement (goods, consultants) delay and procedural complexities • Change in planned programme or inconsistency of physical programme with allocation • Delay in selection and appointment of HR • Site/land acquisition problems • Under/un utilization of funds • Delay in decisions at the Ministry/agency level • Lack of supervision and control • Disagreement with donors • Lack of organizational coordination • Insufficient training Post-project Stage • Limited PAC (potential of adaptability to change) • Limited or no use; • Environmental factors not adequately addressed; • Public unacceptability; • Unavailable power supply, no market, no raw materials etc. Presentation by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan