Dhaka:The government is set to implement artificial intelligence (AI) in the monitoring and evaluation of public projects to enhance transparency and accountability, as stated by State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the initiative aims to introduce AI-based systems for monitoring, expert scrutiny, and independent price assessments. This move is part of efforts to ensure that public project expenditures align with approved rates.
Minister Saki, during a briefing following an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting, explained that the Planning Ministry is developing a software-based system to utilize AI for examining project expenditures on goods and services. The system will ensure spending adheres to the rate schedule.
Additionally, the government plans to involve subject experts in the Public Sector Committee (PSC) to evaluate prices of goods and services that fall outside the established rate schedule, whether purchased locally or imported. The Planning Ministry has issued instructions to bring in specialists to provide expert opinions on such purchases.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has approved a proposal to hire price assessment companies for major projects. These companies will verify the prices of procured goods against current market rates, further strengthening the scrutiny and accountability of public spending.
The government aims to gradually introduce these measures, establishing a comprehensive system of checks and balances to oversee project expenditure. Minister Saki expressed optimism that these new arrangements would facilitate more effective examination of project spending and elevate accountability standards in public development expenditure.