ECNEC orders study on relocation of the Secretariat

The government has asked the housing and public works ministry to conduct a study on relocation of the Secretariat to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar instead of building a new 21-storey high-rise at its current site.

The directive came at yesterday’s ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) was asked to assist in carrying out the study within four weeks, said sources at the planning ministry.

A proposal to demolish the old Cabinet building and build a Tk 649 crore 21-storey tower was placed at the meeting but not approved, as concerns were raised it would worsen traffic congestion in the area.

Relocating the Secretariat to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar -- the former trade fair ground near parliament -- was discussed as an alternative. Officials noted that such a move would ease ministers’ travel and allow the current Secretariat compound to be repurposed for district administration and court offices from Old Dhaka, reducing congestion and improving court operations.

Following the discussions, ECNEC instructed that a comparative study be conducted before reconsidering the high-rise proposal.

Meanwhile, the meeting approved extensions for three projects -- each for the fifth time -- prompting the prime minister to form a committee led by the cabinet secretary to investigate why repeated delays were necessary.

One of the projects, widening a district road between Barisal and Patuakhali, was launched in July 2018 at Tk 302 crore and scheduled for completion in June 2021. Its deadline has now been extended to December 2026, with costs rising by Tk 17 crore.

Another project to upgrade the Barisal-Bhola-Lakshmipur district road, taken up in March 2019 at Tk 302 crore, has seen its cost escalate to Tk 502 crore. Its deadline has been pushed to June 2030.

The Goma Bridge over the Rangamati River in Barisal, initiated in July 2018 at Tk 57 crore, was supposed to be completed by June 2024. The deadline has now been extended to June 2028, with costs rising to Tk 92 crore.

In total, ECNEC approved 14 new and revised projects yesterday involving an expenditure of Tk 13,445 crore.