Initiated in 2016 with an expected completion date in 2018, the project to establish a printing industrial city in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, along the Dhaka-Dohar road, has seen no progress at the field level even after nine years.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the second revision of the project, extending the completion deadline to June 2027 for the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).
Due to the extension from an initial three-year timeline to 12 years, the project's cost has tripled from the initial allocation. Originally estimated at Tk138.7 crore, the revised budget now stands at Tk448.18 crore, resulting in an additional cost of Tk309.48 crore due to the delay.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the ECNEC meeting, which approved a total of 11 projects, including the revised printing industrial city project.
The total cost for these projects is estimated at Tk5459.87 crore, with Tk5214.34 crore funded by the government. An additional Tk140.44 crore will come from foreign sources, and Tk105.09 crore will be provided by the implementing agencies.
Senior Secretary of the Planning Division, Satyajit Karmakar, provided details of the approved projects during a press briefing, attended by State Minister for Planning Shahiduzzaman Sarker.
Among the approvals, seven new projects received the green light, while four existing projects were revised.
The Islamic Arabic University project in Keraniganj, Dhaka, initially approved in 2017 with a budget of Tk413.75 crore, has had its first revision approved. Originally set to be completed by June 2021, the new deadline is December 2026, with the revised cost now at Tk595.63 crore, marking a 43.96% increase.
The second revision of the Building Protection in Urban Areas project, initially estimated at Tk572 crore, has increased to Tk738 crore. This project, managed by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), is receiving a grant of Tk615 crore from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Another significant revision involves the project for constructing pillars, bank protection, walkways, and jetties along the banks of the Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, and Balu rivers. The project's budget has increased from Tk848.55 crore to Tk1276 crore, a 50.37% rise.
The analysis shows that delays in four revised projects have collectively resulted in an additional cost of Tk1,084.71 crore, raising the total revised budget to Tk3,057.43 crore from the initial estimate of Tk1,972.72 crore.
Among the newly approved projects, the Dhaka Region Agricultural Development Project has been allocated Tk176 crore. The Important Rural Infrastructure Development Project in Barguna will cost Tk300 crore, while the Important Rural Infrastructure Development Project in Munshiganj will cost Tk700 crore.
The land acquisition project for the Raipura 120 MW (AC) Peak Grid-Tied Solar Power Plant has been allocated Tk105.09 crore. The Social Welfare Ministry will spend Tk562.11 crore on establishing Child Development Centers in Kishoreganj, Joypurhat, and Chattogram.
The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry's project to upgrade the Cumilla-Salda-Kasba road to a national highway standard has been allocated Tk1,396.58 crore.
Additionally, a project to construct administrative-cum-barrack buildings for police stations across the country has been approved with a budget of Tk1,624.05 crore.
Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam, and other ECNEC members attended the meeting.
