During the tenure of the caretaker government, the sector receiving the highest allocation was power, energy and mineral resources. Thirteen projects were approved in the region, 12 of which involved gas well drilling, exploration and supply, while one focused on capacity expansion at the eastern refinery. Amid domestic gas shortage, the government stressed on increasing internal supplies to reduce dependence on the global market.
Most of the projects undertaken by the Ministry of Local Government were related to roads and rural infrastructure. These were followed by projects under the ministries of health, shipping, education, rail and road, water resources, religion, agriculture and public works.
Generally, the Ministry of Religion remains at the bottom in terms of project allocation. This time, it made it to the top because of a bigger project: mosque-based public education, which aims to improve moral and religious values, with a budget of Tk 46.45 billion.
None of the projects approved during the caretaker government were nationwide in scope. Each was allocated to a specific district, with 43 districts receiving the projects. Chittagong received top priority, with 12 new projects approved for implementation in the district, costing Taka 762.74 billion – equivalent to 38 percent of the total spending on new projects.
These projects include development of infrastructure at the Gulf Terminal of Chittagong Port, construction of a tax building, expansion of the Eastern Refinery and a railway bridge over the Karnaphuli River. Additionally, major projects for Chittagong’s sewerage, sewage treatment and water supply were approved.