PM annoyed by extension of time, cost of dev projects | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
June 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025
PM annoyed by extension of time, cost of dev projects

Infrastructure

TBS Report
08 December, 2020, 09:45 pm
Last modified: 09 December, 2020, 11:07 am

Related News

  • Urban climate resilient infrastructure project approved at ECNEC meeting
  • Bay Terminal gets green light as govt approves Tk13,525cr support projects
  • Revenue must increase to reduce reliance on foreign debt: Wahiduddin
  • Ecnec scraps Bangabandhu Safari Park project in Moulvibazar
  • Bangladesh must boost investment to avoid economic crisis: Analysts

PM annoyed by extension of time, cost of dev projects

She directed the ministers to ask project directors and secretaries concerned, why the estimated time and cost are being increased

TBS Report
08 December, 2020, 09:45 pm
Last modified: 09 December, 2020, 11:07 am
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: PMO

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday again expressed annoyance over the trend of amending development projects increasing time and cost.

She directed ministers to inquire about the reasons behind amendment of proposals from project directors, officials of implementing organisations and secretaries concerned.

The PM gave the instructions while approving amendments of two ongoing projects at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Commenting that the implementation period of a new project is longer than required, she ordered to bring down the implementation period to a reasonable level.

The PM virtually presided over the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC Conference Centre in the capital.

Four projects worth Tk4,077.09 crore were approved at the meeting. The government will give Tk3,438.33 crore while Tk379.51 crore would be given by implementing agencies, Dr Shamsul Alam, senior secretary and member of the general economics department at the Planning Commission, told the media after the meeting.

The secretary said Ecnec approved the first amendment of a project styled ""Modernisation of Agricultural Information Service and Strengthening Digital Agricultural Information and Communication".

"Primarily, the estimated cost of the project was Tk68.71 crore. Undertaken in 2016, the project was scheduled to be completed by June this year. Now, the implementation period of the project has been extended by two years, till June 2022. The project cost also increased by 60%, or Tk 41.20 crore. Now the estimated cost is Tk109.91 crore.

Shamsul Alam said the PM became a little annoyed at the meeting and wanted to know the reason behind increasing the estimated time and cost of the project.

"Why has the project not been implemented yet? Why is extra time and money needed?" he quoted the PM as saying.

He said that as the Agriculture Minister was absent from the meeting and the Agriculture Secretary had taken charge a few days ago, no one could give a definite answer in this regard. However, the Prime Minister directed the project director to seek an explanation for the delay and additional cost.

"None could answer the PM's query as the agriculture minister was absent in the meeting due to illness, and the secretary joined the ministry only a few days ago. However, the PM instructed us to know the reason behind the increase of time and money from the project director," he said.

"The PM also expressed dissatisfaction over the proposal to extend the term of 'Charkhali-Tuskhali-Mathbaria-Patharghata Road Development and Widening Project', to June 2021. The project was approved in 2017 with a view to complete by June 2017.

He said the cost of the Tk104.77 project has increased by 43%, to Tk149.34 crore.

At the time, the Prime Minister asked, "Why is it taking so many years to complete a one-year project?

The PM said that the importance of this road will increase a lot once the Padma Multipurpose Bridge is opened.

Elevated expressways to be called 'dotola sarak' from now on

The prime minister has asked all to call the elevated expressway "Dotola Sarak", meaning two-storey roads in Bangla from now on.

She gave the directive during the meeting while approving the project of widening the road from Panchabati to Muktarpur Bridge and constructing elevated expressway at a cost of Tk2,242.78 crore. The government will give Tk2,020.77 crore from its own fund and implementing organisation Bangladesh Bridges Authority would give Tk222.01 crore.

Mymensingh City gets big project for the first time

After the announcement of Mymensingh municipality as the latest city corporation of the country in early 2016, no major project has been approved for the development of the area in two and a half years.

In this situation, ECNEC has approved a project at a cost of Tk1,575 crore.

Around 464.62 km of roads, 345.53 km of drains, 16.8 km of footpaths, three bridges, 13 culverts, six foot-over bridges will be constructed under the project titled 'Improvement of Citizen Services including Road Development and Drainage Network of Mymensingh City Corporation'.

Besides, various materials for road construction and waste management will be procured.

While approving the project, the prime minister said Mymensingh city has a lot of tradition; there are old trees and several playgrounds.

During the implementation of the project, she directed to refrain from cutting down trees and constructing buildings in the field, said Dr Shamsul Alam.

He said the prime minister has instructed not to pile up dirt anywhere.

Bangladesh / Economy / Top News

development project / ECNEC / PM Hasina

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Foreign firm to draft merger plan for investment promotion agencies
    Foreign firm to draft merger plan for investment promotion agencies
  • File photo of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Photo: Collected
    Joy spends Eid with Hasina in India: Indian media
  • European aircraft- manufacturing company Airbus and British aviation giant Menzies Aviation. Photo: Collected
    Aviation giants Airbus, Menzies seek long-time partnership with Bangladesh

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • Screengrab from video shows a group of local youths forcing tourists to leave a tourist spot in Utmachhra area of Sylhet's Companiganj on Sunday, 8 June 2025, citing allegations of obscene activities and environmental damage
    Locals declare tourist spot in Sylhet 'closed', force visitors to leave
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook
  • Photo shows the Land Cruiser Prado car belonging to former member of parliament (MP) Anwarul Azim Anar found in Kushtia. Photo: TBS
    Luxury car of ex-AL MP Anar, who was killed in Kolkata, found in Kushtia

Related News

  • Urban climate resilient infrastructure project approved at ECNEC meeting
  • Bay Terminal gets green light as govt approves Tk13,525cr support projects
  • Revenue must increase to reduce reliance on foreign debt: Wahiduddin
  • Ecnec scraps Bangabandhu Safari Park project in Moulvibazar
  • Bangladesh must boost investment to avoid economic crisis: Analysts

Features

Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

14h | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

1d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

3d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Greta Thunberg deported from Israel

Greta Thunberg deported from Israel

16h | TBS World
BNP is not a revolutionary party: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP is not a revolutionary party: Mirza Fakhrul

16h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 10 JUNE 2025

News of The Day, 10 JUNE 2025

14h | TBS News of the day
Trump sends 2,000 more National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles

Trump sends 2,000 more National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles

17h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net