From July 1996 to September 2004, the WB and ADB disbursed US $ 6345.96 million for 76 development projects and the governments utilised only $ 3244.17 million, Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman told the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.

"Many ministries exhaust local resources but fail to use foreign aid. It's because they are reluctant to meet the conditions attached by the donor agencies. Before releasing financial aid, donors want the concerned ministries to have preparation and feasibility study done in time," Saifur said while replying to a query.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the poor track record of the ministries in utilisation of the 'hard-earned' foreign aid.

Saifur said his ministry has strengthened the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) for quick implementation of the projects. "We have also shortened the time to prepare project proposals," he said.

He, however, did not agree with the Awami League (AL) lawmaker Dr Abdur Razzak that politicisation of the administration by the alliance government accounts for slow implementation of projects and poor utilisation of external aid.

Saifur criticised some donor countries for imposing strict conditions and excessive interventions. "Some countries like Denmark give us a small amount of money, but interfere all too often."

The present government is not interested in receiving this sort of assistance.

FOREIGN LOAN
Replying to another question, Saifur said Bangladesh has got $7277.42 million in foreign loans in last eight years and paid $ 1271.28 million as interest on the loans.

The minister said in last three years of the present government, the country received $1328.66 million in financial aid. This includes grants of $931.355 million and loans of $397.313 million.

He said none of the donors has withdrawn proposed assistance during the last three years of the government.

Referring to having a national budget without foreign assistance, he said it is still not possible, as the country's foreign direct investment is not adequate.

Saifur Rahman once again rejected the recent Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report that tagged Bangladesh as the most corrupt nation for four consecutive years.

"When there are many developed countries where corruption involving billions of dollar is rampant, they (TIB) brand a country like Bangladesh corrupt, which is not fair," he said replying to a question from Opposition Chief Whip Abdus Shaheed.

He said the donors praised Bangladesh for its better financial management. "Bangladesh repays its loans and interests in time while the African nations misappropriate most of the loans," he said adding, "But ironically, the African countries are not branded as corrupt".

Saifur said, "I am always against such listing that brands a country corrupt on the basis of local newspaper reports. I rejected the 2001 TIB report during the Awami League rule when Bangladesh was labelled as the most corrupt country."

FLOOD REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
The donors pledged $519.47 million in financial aid for flood rehabilitation programme. But we are yet to receive any significant amount of the promised assistance, Saifur told the House.

"We look forward to a significant instalment by the end of this year," Saifur said.

He said the ADB has tentatively pledged $200 million while the WB will grant $190 million.

When the opposition AL lawmakers criticised the government for making delay in flood rehabilitation programmes, Saifur said though the government has not yet received any foreign assistance in this regard, it has already allocated Tk 2,006 crore for flood rehabilitation projects from its own fund.