Govt to modernise institutions, curb money laundering: Saki

State Minister for Planning, Zonayed Saki said the government is working to modernize state institutions by taking a firm stand against the unchecked looting of public funds and money laundering that occurred in the past.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA) project at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka today (28 June), he said, the government has prioritised increasing domestic revenue to implement the proposed budget.

"Automation and technology-driven tax administration will expand the tax base and boost revenue collection," he added.

Saki said, "The World Bank-backed SITA project will modernize and digitally integrate five key institutions, including the Planning Division, BBS, NBR, the Public Procurement Authority, and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General."

The state minister stressed the importance of reliable data for policymaking and development planning, saying the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics would be technologically strengthened to improve the accuracy and timeliness of key national statistics.

The minister said the project would strengthen the Planning Division by introducing modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, in project appraisal, cost estimation, monitoring, and data integration, making approval and implementation faster, more transparent, and more efficient.