Despite the fact that Development Planning is of crucial importance for a country like Bangladesh, it is hardly exercised as a matter of academic interest and thus reading materials are also inadequate. This book focused on issues relating to design, approval, implementation, evaluation and strategies of development planning to advance economic and social development in Bangladesh. The importance given to planned development and the role assigned to planning commission– the apex planning body of the nation have been highlighted. It also singled out deficiencies and shortcomings of policies and institutional arrangements that impacted economic and social development during 1973-2002. The book ends up recommendations for reintroducing ‘Medium term plan’ within the framework of ‘Perspective plan of 20 years.