Welcome to Planning Commission

The Bangladesh Planning Commission is the central planning

organization of the country. It determines objectives, goals and
strategies of medium and short-term plans within the framework of
long- term perspective and formulates policy measures for the
achievement of planned goals and targets.
Its

activities

include

the

following

elements

of

development

planning:

Policy Planning: determination of goals, objectives, priorities,

strategies and policy measures for development plans;

Sectoral Planning: identification of the role that the various

sectors of the economy are required to play in the context of the
Plan objectives and goals;

Programme Planning: formulation of detailed resource allocation

to realize the Plan objectives and goals;

Project Planning: appraisal of projects embodying investment

decisions for the implementation of the sectoral plans; and

Evaluation: impact analysis of projects, programmes and Plans on

the peoples living standard.
Functions of the Bangladesh Planning Commission in more concrete
terms are:

Formulation of countrys medium-term (5 years) macro plan

within the framework of long-term (15-20 years) perspective.

Formulation of the Three Year Rolling Investment Programme

(TYRIP) in consistence with the Five Year Plan.

Formulation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) .

Preparation of Annual Development Programme (ADP) within

the framework of TYRIP and Five Year Plan.

Appraisal of project proposals for the Executive Committee of

National Economic Council (ECNEC) and the Minister for
Planning.

Evaluation

of

Plans

and

their

impact

on

the

economic

development.
Undertaking and promotion of research to support development
planning.

About Commission
Rapid improvement of living standard of the masses was the prime
goal of Bangladesh liberation struggle in 1971. This vision for higher
living

standard

for

the

masses

has

been

enshrined

in

the

Bangladesh Constitution. The state of Bangladesh through its

Constitution (article-15) committed to a higher living standard for
its people by providing basic needs to all its citizens through
planned development. With this objective of planned development
for

the

country,

the

Bangladesh

Planning

Commission

was

established in January 1972.The Bangladesh Planning Commission

had its roots in pre-independence Bangladesh. In the mid 1950s a
Provincial Planning Board was established under the United Front
Government of the then East Pakistan (present Bangladesh). It was
an important agency for formulating investment programmes and
for negotiating with the Central Government of Pakistan for an
adequate share of the financial resources for the development of

East Pakistan. The Planning Board undertook the task of appraising

and evaluating East Pakistan development projects of a certain size.
Later the Bangladesh Government in exile during the war of
independent in 1971 established a Planning Cell, which was an
embryonic start of the present Planning Commission. The Planning
Cell established during the war of liberation was mainly concerned
with formulating a programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation
of the economy of post-independence Bangladesh.
One of the first decisions the Bangladesh Government made after
returning from exile was to establish the Planning Commission and
to appoint the Deputy Chairperson and members of the Commission
in 31 January, 1972. The Cabinet Decision in establishing the
Planning Commission laid down ten functions for the Commission.
This can be brought down to three broad sets of functions.
to prepare the short and mid-term and long-term plans viz.
Annual

Development

Programme,

Five

Year

Plan

and

Perspective Plans;
to make recommendation as well as being involved in the
process of deliberation on a range of policies and institutional
changes which were necessary for the implementation and
realisation of the Plan objectives; and
to co-ordinate the economic policies, both short and long-term,
to be under taken by the various ministries.
In addition the Planning Commission was to serve as the Secretariat
for major economic policy questions and for initiating the appraisal
of development projects and programmes by the National Economic
Council (NEC). The NEC was created to serve as the economic minicabinet, consisting of the main economic ministers of the cabinet
and headed by the Prime Minister.

Organizational Structure
The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Planning Commission. The
Minister for Planning are the Vice- Chairman of the Commission. At
the policy level, the Commission consists of Vice Chairman and five
Members. Secretary Planning Division acts as the Member Secretary
of

the

Commission.

The

Planning

Division

provides

the

administrative and Secretarial support to the Planning Commission.

Under the Members there are six Divisions, which are further subdivided into thirty functional Wings (Chart-1). Two of the Divisions
deal with the general macro issues of the economy viz. General
Economics Division and Programming Division. The other four
Divisions deal with the planning and policy issues of different
sectors of the economy. The Planning Commission officials below the
Members belong to the Bangladesh Civil Service BCS (Economic)
cadre, administered by the Planning Division. Chiefs headed the
Divisions and Wings are headed by Joint Chiefs. Wings are further
sub-divided into Branches and headed by Deputy Chiefs and Desks
are manned by Senior Assistant Chiefs/Assistant Chiefs of the
Planning Commission.

Programming Division
Functions of the Programming Division
Determination

of

the

sizes

of

the

Annual

Development

Programmes (ADP) and sectoral allocations/ proportions.

Formulation of ADP and revision of ADP.
Preparation of Annual Technical Assistance Programmes (ATAP)
and revision of ATAP.
Recommend release of ADP funds in relevant cases.
Oversee ADP implementation/ administration.

 Determination of external assistance requirements for ADP

financing.
Preparation

of

the

list

of

Aid

Worthy

Bangladesh Development Forum Meeting.

Inter Ministerial and intra- Planning
ordination

in

matters

of

ADP

Projects

before

Commission

preparation,

revision

coand

appropriation/re- appropriation of funds.

Provide secretarial service to the programming committee of
Planning Commission.
Keeping records of resource use.
Preparation and interpretation of the Guidelines for Local
Government Development.
Oversee formulation and implementation of Local Government
Development programmes and co- ordination with Finance
Division, ERD and Local Government Division in this regard.

General Economics Division

The General Economics Division is one of the six Divisions of the

Planning Commission. This Division alike other Technical Divisions
provides secretariat assistance to the Planning Commission and to
the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council and the
National Economic Council in all matters relating to plan preparation
and formulation of economic policies.

Functions of this Division

(i) Preparation of national, medium and long term guidelines and
plans in accordance with social, economic and political objectives as
laid down by the Government;
(ii) Preparation of technical frameworks for medium term plans
(Five Year Plan);
(iii)

Formulation

of

alternative

strategies,

and

policies

for

mobilization of domestic resources and for achievement of plan

objectives;
(Iv) Undertake research studies economic issues in the; fiscal and
monetary fields, International economics, savings and Investment,
employment and income distribution;
(v) Undertake macro and sectoral evaluation of. Five year Plan;
(vi) Estimation of national income, consumption, savings and
investment, domestic resources; external trade and balance of
payments;
(vii) Preparation of Annual Plan (Annual Economic Review);
(viii)

Preparation

meetings;

of

Memorandum;

for

Bangladesh

aid

group

(ix) Preparation of briefs for meetings and negotiations with

multilateral organizations like World Bank, IMF ADB, ESCAP, EEC,
ECDC, South Asian Forum as well as bilateral donors;
(x) Provide staff support to the Planning Commission for Council
Committee

on

Exports,

Resource

Committee,

Inter-ministerial

Committee on ADP, Foreign Exchange Allocation Committee etc.;

(xi) Initiate and organize seminars and professional discussions on
issues relevant to economic planning and development.

Socio Economic Infrastructure Division

Education Wing
Determination of Five-Year Plan for Education sector and
provide assistance to relevant Ministries/ Divisions to identify
projects worthy of being included in ADP
Providing assistance to Ministry for evaluation of project
proposals
Taking necessary steps for approval of projects by relevant
authorities
Field-level monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
Processing of resource allocation for development projects
Providing list of aid-worthy projects to the donor community

Social Welfare, Womens Affairs and Youth Development,

Mass Communication, Sports and Culture Wing
Preparation

of

long,

medium

and

short-term

plans

in

accordance with social, economic and political objectives as

laid down by the Government
Providing assistance to relevant

Ministries/

identify projects worthy of being included in ADP

Divisions

to

 Determination

of

policy

priorities,

objectives

and

implementation strategy
Provide assistance for approval of projects related to economic
and social empowerment of women
Provide assistance for approval of projects related to selfemployment of youth

Health Wing
Determination

of

Five-Year

Plan

for

Education

sector

in

accordance with social, economic and political objectives as

laid down by the Government
Evaluation and approval of

health-related

development

projects
Keeping liaison with Economic Relations Division regarding
health-related projects
Submissions of opinions

and

suggestions

of

Planning

Commission at joint meetings between GOB, UNICEF Action

Group and UNICEF
Evaluation of progress

regarding

issues

raised

in

the

Parliament and ADP projects and coordination of matters

related to ECNEC

Population Planning Wing

Disbursement of funds for ADP projects
Analysis of problems regarding implementation of aid-worthy
projects and presenting guidelines for possible solutions
Negotiation for international assistance and representation at
Steering Committee meetings at different ministries
Analysis and evaluation of projects related to population
growth and their causes

Public

Administration,

Labor,

Technology Research Wing

Manpower,

Science

and

 Providing

assistance

to

relevant

Ministries/

Divisions

to

identify projects worthy of being included in ADP

Preparation of working paper for ECNEC and inter- Ministerial
meetings
Disbursement of funds for ADP projects
Implementation of projects related to skill development in
public administration, transparency and accountability
Implementation of projects related to labor and manpower

Physical Infrastructure Division

Functions of Physical Infrastructure Division
Preparation of short, medium, long-term plans for sectors
under Physical Infrastructure Division, including roads and
highways,

railway,

civil

aviation

and

tourism,

post

and

telecommunication, statistics, water distribution, local and

municipal infrastructure development, works and housing
Establishment of development for hill tracts Evaluation and
approval of different development projects
Preparation of implementation plan for annual development
projects
Providing secretarial services for ECNEC and inter-Ministerial
meetings
Undertaking

of

research

studies

on

issues

related

to

development of physical infrastructure.

Industries and Energy Division

Major Functions of Industry Division
Planning for increase in production of paper and newsprint
Identification of comparative advantages in different sectors of
the economy
Taking steps
investment

towards

increase

of

foreign

and

private

 Taking steps towards strengthening of exports

Oil, Gas, and Natural Resources Wing

Encouragement of growth of locally produced energy, such as
natural gas
Satisfaction of local commercial demand through development
of gas
Establishment of national gas grid
Taking steps towards development of mineral resources

Power Wing
Working towards an objective of producing an additional 3,319
Mega-Watt to meet local demands
Allotment of Tk. 8,836,10 crore in Fifth Five-Year Plan
Encouragement of private sector investment.

Agriculture, Water Resource & Rural Institution

Division
Major Functions of Crops Wing:
Planning

for

productivity

increasing
and

real

crop

income

production

and

of

families

farming

increased
on

sustainable basis
Planning to attain self- sufficiency in food grain production and
to increase production of other nutritional corps
Taking steps to increase foreign earnings through exports of
agricultural products including fruits and vegetables
Taking steps to create favorable environment for promoting
agro-based industries
Taking steps to increase research facilities for producing
quality crops to increase production per acre of land

Major Functions of Food Wing

 Making Plan for ensuring self-sufficiency in food grain and food

security for all;
Making plan for preservation and maintenance of security
stock of food grains to meet any natural calamities, shortfalls;
Taking steps to stabilize prices of food grains;
Taking steps to ensure maintaining food quality

Major Functions of forest, fisheries and livestock Wing

A. Forest and Environment
Planning for expanding Forest Resources
Taking steps to conserve and protect the eco-system for biodiversity and maintaining favorable environment for human
being
Taking

steps

to

encourage

private

forestation

through

plantation of rubber, teak, fruit trees and high value trees

Taking steps to include peoples participations (NGO,
government,

Local

government

bodies)

in

afforestation

programmes
Plan for making research to produce improved variety of trees
and develop new technology and transferring technology
through extension works
Taking steps to promote multiple Land use plan
B. Fisheries and Livestock
Making plan and programs to increases Fish and livestock
production and improve nutritional level
Making plan to generate employment

opportunities

and

alleviate poverty through promotion of Fisheries and livestock

production
Taking steps to increase foreign earnings through increase
export of shrimp, fish, fish products, leather products and
reduce imports of powder milk

 Taking steps to increase research facilities for improving

quality of fishes and livestock and increased production
through improved technologies
Encourage private sector in

production,

research

and

marketing of Fish, livestock and processed products.

Major Functions of Rural Development and Institution

Wing
Making

plan

to

create

facilities

for

self-

employment,

development of small and landless farmers and eradicate rural

poverty;
Making plan for Rural physical and social Infrastructural
development through formation of schools, colleges, training
centers, growth centers, construction of bridges, culverts,
roads, formation of groups etc.
Taking steps to promote resource

mobilization

through

individual/group savings;
Taking steps to create favorable environment for micro-credits
for rural poor people.

7TH FIVE YEAR PLAN

General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission is in the process of preparing
the 7th Five Year Plan (2015-16 to 2019-20). In line with that a series of Background Studies
have been conducted by GED are as follows:
1_Improving Access of the Poor to Financial Services
2_Strategy for Development of SME in Bangladesh
3_Strategy for Education and Training_Final Version
4_Improving Land Administration and Management_Final
5_Prospect and Strategy for Tourism Development

6_Strategy for Mobilizing Foreign Resources

7_Strategy for Export Diversification
8_Fiscal Management and Revenue Mobilization
9_Financial Market Developments and Challenges in Bangladesh
10_Strategy for Infrastructure Development
11a_Climate Change and Disaster Management
11b_Environment, Forestry and Bioderversity Conservation
12_Governance and Justice _Final Draft
13_Strategy on Local Government Strengthening
14_Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition
15_Lagging Regions Study
16_Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment
17_ Agriculture Sector Development Strategy
18_Achieving Digital Bangladesh by 2021 and Beyond
19_Strategy for Ocean and River Resources Management
20_South South Cooperation in the Regional Context
21_Health Strategy for 7th FYP
22_Impact of Demographic Transition on Socioeconomic Development
23_FINAL Nutrition Background Paper for 7th Five Year Plan
24_Linking Equity and Growth in Bangladesh
25_Ending Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh