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The interim government is moving to extend the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) project by one year, a programme widely recognised as the Awami League government's flagship ICT initiative.
Alongside the extension, the ICT Division has sent a proposal to the Planning Commission for the project's second revision, seeking to raise its total cost by Tk 20.5 billion, or about 24 per cent.
Officials say the ICT Division has requested a 34-fold increase in the allocation for purchasing computers and accessories, even though the project has only a year left in its current cycle.
Several other expenditure heads have also been proposed to rise by more than 50 per cent, according to discussions at a recent Special Project Evaluation Committee (SPEC) meeting of the Planning Commission.
The "Access to Information (a2i)" initiative was first launched by the Awami League-led government after it returned to power following the December 2008 elections.
In 2020, a separate project was approved under the title "Aspire to Innovate (a2i)," retaining the earlier identity, with an estimated cost of Tk 4.85 billion.
Originally scheduled to conclude in December 2023, the project was granted its first extension until December 2025, alongside a cost revision to Tk 8.55 billion. The latest proposal, if approved, would raise the cost to Tk 10.60 billion - 119 per cent higher than the initial estimate.
Planning Commission officials noted that the second revision has attracted scrutiny because of sharp jumps in certain allocations. Notably, the revised proposal shows that the budget for procuring computers has been raised to Tk 852.95 million - Tk 827.95 million higher than the original estimate of Tk 25 million. This represents a 34-fold increase.
The ICT Division has also proposed Tk 1.9 billion for software development, up Tk 564.14 million from the latest revision. At the SPEC meeting, commission officials questioned the rationale behind these allocations, given that the project has already been under implementation for nearly six years.
At the same time, the ICT Division cut allocations in 13 expenditure heads - including vehicle maintenance, fuel, cleaning supplies, and furniture - by a total of Tk 487 million.
However, officials expressed concern over new or increased allocations such as Tk 50 million for subscription fees and additional spending under hospitality and honorarium.
Until June this year, the project had spent Tk 6.25 billion, around 73 per cent of its allocated funds, with a reported physical progress of 78 per cent.
The a2i project, jointly implemented by the Cabinet Division and the ICT Division, has been central to Bangladesh's push for digital governance. It supports platforms such as e-Nothi (paperless government files), the National Portal, Muktopaath (online learning), MyGov, and EkPay (digital payments).
According to the project proposal, the extension is needed to maintain these services until the newly formed Agency to Innovate becomes fully operational.
Under the Agency to Innovate Act 2023, all activities of the a2i project will be transferred to the new agency, which received organisational approval this year and is expected to be fully functional in 2026.
Project officials argue that the additional allocations are necessary to ensure uninterrupted operation of key digital platforms, strengthen data security and backup facilities, and support "New Bangladesh (Reform)" initiatives aligned with ICT-driven governance.
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