Dhaka, April 21 -- Nearly 50 per cent of beneficiaries under Bangladesh's social safety net programmes are ineligible to receive government allowances, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said on Sunday.

"Many individuals have been included in the programmes based on political considerations, and there has been undue influence in selecting genuine beneficiaries," he told reporters during a briefing following a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the Planning Commission's conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

At the meeting, Ecnec approved 16 development projects, including a major infrastructure initiative for the Bay Terminal in Chattogram.

Dr Wahiduddin noted that appointing consultants ...