DHAKA, MAY 23 (V7N) - Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam emphasized that the benefits of projects implemented with public funds must be guaranteed for the citizens, demanding absolute transparency and accountability across all stages of execution.

She made these remarks on Saturday while addressing a progress review meeting for the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the month of April under the 2025–26 fiscal year. The high-level session took place at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism conference room inside the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Core Directives for Aviation and Tourism Infrastructure

To eliminate systemic bottlenecks and ensure fiscal responsibility, the minister issued several binding directives to ministry officials and project teams:

Expedited Timelines: All remaining work on active, ongoing infrastructure developments must be completed within the shortest possible timeframe, strictly adhering to the Prime Minister's administrative guidelines.

Feasibility Mandates: Moving forward, no new projects in either the aviation or tourism sectors may be greenlit without rigorous, independent feasibility assessments conducted beforehand.

Strategic Planning Over Speed: Building infrastructure without a comprehensive long-term action plan is prohibited. Effective planning must precede any construction phase to avoid wasting national assets.

Contractor Surveillance: Project directors and regulatory bodies were instructed to maintain cautious, strict, and proactive supervision over contractor performance, ensuring that project schedules do not slip.

"Ensuring transparency and accountability in project implementation is non-negotiable. Every tier of administration must enforce strict supervision so that public money is utilized properly and solely for the welfare of the people." — Afroza Khanam, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister

Meeting Leadership and Institutional Presence

The RADP implementation evaluation was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Fahmida Akhtar.

The strategy assembly brought together key institutional stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddiqui, senior ministry officials, and various project directors currently managing air transport and tourism developments across the country.

END/AJ/RH