The ADP implementation rate was 28 percent during the corresponding period last year.

Different ministries spent about Tk 6,451 crore against projects under Tk 22,000-crore budget. The local component in it was Tk 4,100 crore or 28 percent of allocation and the project aid was Tk 2,351 crore or 32 percent.

These figures were presented at a meeting between officials of 20 ministries and the finance minister where they discussed various aspects of the ADP implementation.

Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman at the meeting criticised the ministries that had lower ADP implementation rate against the amount of money released.

For instance, the finance ministry released 55 percent of allocated funds for projects under the communications ministry that could utilise 28 percent.

The health ministry was given 40 percent of its allocated funds, but it utilised only 13 percent.

Saifur told these ministries that while they complain to the prime minister about non-release of funds, they cannot utilise the money when available, meeting sources said.

After the meeting, the minister told reporters, "The ADP implementation rate should have been higher. But it did not match the expectations due to floods and political unrest."

"Much of our funds remain unutilised," he added, "but still, it's better than that of last year."

"If political programmes like hartal and strike and violence did not occur, our implementation would have been better," he pointed out.