In the first month of FY 2025-26, the government spent only BDT 16.44 billion from its total annual development program (ADP) of over BDT 2.38 trillion, covering 1,198 projects. This puts the ADP implementation rate for July at just 0.69 percent—the lowest for any first month of the fiscal year in the past five years. Compared to July of FY 2024-25, spending fell by nearly BDT 13 billion. Notably, 12 ministries and departments failed to spend any money from the ADP fund during the month.

According to the Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Ministry, the July ADP execution rates in previous years were 1.05 percent in FY 2024-25, 1.27 percent in FY 2023-24, 0.96 percent in FY 2022-23, and 1.14 percent in FY 2021-22.

The 12 ministries and departments that did not spend any allocated funds in July include: the Ministry of Water Resources; the Health, Education, and Family Welfare Division; the Ministry of Religious Affairs; the Public Security Division; the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs; the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs; the Ministry of Defense; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Public Service Commission; the Anti-Corruption Commission; the Parliamentary Affairs Secretariat; and IMED itself. Together, these entities oversee 130 projects with nearly BDT 180 billion allocated.

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said no excuses would be accepted for delays in ADP implementation. Speaking at a press conference after an ECNEC meeting on July 17, he said, “The annual development spending rate in July was less than 1 percent. Last year, many projects faced delays for various reasons, and execution fell far short of targets. This year, implementation must be more dynamic. Last year’s excuses will not be accepted.”