Why did country's sole vaccine plant shift from Gopalganj to Munshiganj at a 12.77% surge in project cost
The relocation reverses a politically-motivated decision and aims to anchor the crucial facility in a region better suited for scientific research and international logistics
The country's first and only national vaccine plant project is being relocated from Gopalganj to Munshiganj, triggering a 12.77% surge in project cost before implementation has even begun.
The Essential Drugs Company Limited's revised proposal for the "Essential Biotech and Research Center" project sets the new budget at Tk3,400 crore.
Why it matters
This is a major public health and infrastructure project that has been delayed and mired in political controversy. The relocation reverses a politically-motivated decision and aims to anchor the crucial facility in a region better suited for scientific research and international logistics.
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The big picture: Why the shift
The project is moving from Gopalganj to the BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajdikhan Upazila of Munshiganj — a decision based entirely on operational efficiency and access to skilled manpower.
- Geographic isolation: Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, special assistant (health) to the chief adviser, told The Business Standard that the Gopalganj location was chosen for political reasons, while the skilled manpower required for vaccine research is "concentrated mainly in and around Dhaka."
- Access and efficiency: Munshiganj is only 22 kilometres from Dhaka, offering convenient connectivity to capital-based government agencies, regulatory bodies, and research institutes.
- Global logistics: Proximity to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is a key factor, facilitating the timely import of raw materials and the export of vaccines while maintaining the integrity of the cold chain supply.
- Technical support: The new plant will sit adjacent to the EDCL's new pharmaceutical plant, allowing for shared technical services.
By the numbers
The project's original cost was Tk3,015 crore. The revised Tk3,400 crore budget reflects a Tk385 crore increase across several components, citing taka's depreciation and extended shipment timelines.
- Revised cost: Tk3,400 crore (up 12.77% from Tk3,015 crore).
- ADB loan: Increases by Tk267.5 crore to Tk3,037.5 crore.
- Training budget: Nearly doubles to Tk19.50 crore to cover exchange rate fluctuations and fund six new training programmes (two local, four foreign).
- Project tenure: Extended from January 2024 to December 2032 due to implementation delays.
- Cuts: Allocation for raw materials, spare parts, and consultancy services (totalling over Tk87 crore) was significantly reduced or excluded.
The context
The project's relocation follows the political change triggered by the July Uprising, after which the interim government abandoned the initial Gopalganj plan. The first step towards implementation began in 2020 with land acquisition in Gopalganj, but nearly two years after the project was approved, no work has commenced.
