Kamrul Hasan: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita has stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and well-planned implementation in ongoing development activities aimed at transforming Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism sectors into modern, sustainable, and people-oriented industries. She said all concerned officials must act more responsibly to ensure that the benefits of projects implemented with public funds directly reach the people.

She made these remarks while addressing, as the chief guest, a review meeting on the progress of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) implementation up to April of the 2025–26 fiscal year, held on Saturday (May 23) at the conference room of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

At the meeting, the minister said that, following the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the remaining work of all ongoing projects must be completed within the shortest possible time. She also emphasized the need to properly assess the financial feasibility, long-term effectiveness, and public interest implications before undertaking any new project in the aviation and tourism sectors in the future.

She noted that infrastructure development is not limited to the construction of buildings and physical facilities; rather, it is closely linked to the country’s economic progress, investment climate, international connectivity, and the expansion of the tourism industry. Therefore, adopting realistic and well-structured action plans before implementing any development project is essential.

The minister further said that the quality of work, punctuality, and progress of contractors engaged in project implementation must be monitored regularly. She warned that no negligence, irregularities, or substandard work would be tolerated. She also called on the officials concerned to play a more proactive and accountable role in ensuring transparency in development projects.

Afroza Khanam Rita said, “Ensuring that people receive the actual benefits of projects implemented with public money is the government’s primary objective. Public interest must remain the highest priority in all development activities.” She directed the authorities concerned to maintain strict supervision at every stage of project implementation.

Analysts believe that if effective monitoring and financial discipline can be ensured in implementing the government’s various initiatives for airport infrastructure expansion, modernization, and tourism sector development, the sector will be able to make a greater contribution to the national economy. In particular, the timely completion of ongoing development projects has now become crucial to ensuring international-standard services.

The meeting was chaired by Fahmida Akhtar and attended by Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, along with senior officials of the ministry, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), and directors of various ongoing projects.