Planning and Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud emphasized on Monday that generating more employment is now a higher priority for the interim government than simply boosting GDP growth. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Planning Ministry officials at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, he highlighted the need for a shift in focus to stabilize the economy and create jobs.
“Our priority is now to generate more employment and stabilize the economy,” Wahiduddin said, noting that while GDP growth is important, it is not sufficient on its own. “The focus on GDP alone has overlooked the qualitative standards that are crucial for sustainable development,” he added.
He criticized the previous government’s approach to development projects, pointing out that many were initiated without adequately considering the financial liabilities, whether funded locally or from foreign sources. “Some projects were undertaken without proper prioritization and were influenced by vested interests,” he said.
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The adviser stressed the importance of reallocating funds from unnecessary expenses in development projects to areas that can generate more employment. “To me, it’s much more important to generate employment than to increase GDP growth. However, these two are interconnected,” he explained.
Wahiduddin also indicated that ongoing and early-stage projects would be re-evaluated to ensure they align with current priorities. He underscored the importance of human resource development, stating that infrastructure alone cannot drive prosperity. “Human resources development is essential—without it, infrastructures are just skeletons,” he remarked.
As the adviser to both the planning and education ministries, he expressed confidence in his ability to integrate human resource development with the country’s broader economic planning.
When asked about the future of mega projects, Wahiduddin noted that the government would not adhere to a single policy but would focus on preventing delays and cost overruns that have plagued many large-scale projects. “Many projects, including major ones, have had to be revised four to five times. We will have the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) prepare a report to ensure such mistakes are not repeated,” he said.
He also addressed concerns about the credibility of data published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), including inflation, GDP, and other social indices. “I will look into whether the issues stem from a lack of skills or intentional errors,” he assured.