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IT should be obvious that what we need is not increased allocation of resources. The most important need is to ensure optimum utilisation of resources in each sector. It does not matter whatever the allocations for a sector if the same are not well utilised to create value or wealth.
Government spendings have much increased. The higher levels of spending have been sustained considerably with risks by resorting to lending from the public and the banks. The debt servicing liabilities on these accounts are fast climbing which makes the issue of optimum returns from public sector spending all the more significant.
Strong criticisms have been voiced about higher sectoral allocations in the Bangladesh economy and the resultant poor sectoral performance. Education, in particular, is presently enjoying a lion's share of the budget. But performance in this sector hardly shows promise. There are allegations that corruption, colossal in nature, is plaguing the education sector that makes largely ineffective drain of resources.
Similar allegations of corruption and misuse of resources are heard in relation to other sectors in varying degrees that underline that all governments in this country from now on will have to devise the ways and means of corruption-free utilisation of the taxpayers' money.
Shamim Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka.
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