DHAKA: The present secretariat complex of Topkhana road has no scope for expansion to accommodate all the ministries causing location of several ministries outside the present complex.

The present was built for need of a provincial government so it is very natural that it will not have capacity for functioning of activities of an Independent country with a growing need of an ever-growing population.
Foreign, Liberation war, Defense, Planning, Expatriates Welfare, Social Welfare ministries and even ICT, Local Government and Forest departments are located out side of the present complex.
The location of the ministries outside the secretariat is creating obstacles for smooth functioning of the government work. For this reason, government has decided to relocate the secretariat complex to the site of International Trade Fair venue at Sher-e- Bangla Nagar. The primary work of shifting the complex has already started meanwhile.

This initiative has been taken up under the project of ‘Building of national secretariat to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.’
 
The total project cost has been estimated at TK 213.25 crore which will be funded from own sources. Paper work has already been started and the complex will be completed by June of 2018.

Deputy Secretary of Housing and Public Works Ministry Mohammad Jalaluddin has prepared the summery of the project.
He told banglanews that the summery of the project has been sent to the Planning Commission and officials concerned will sit as soon as they call for a meeting. The project is scheduled to be completed by June of 2018 as proposed.

Public Work Department (PWD) will implement the project.  For implementation, year wise allocation of fund has also been proposed. In 2014-15,  TK 438.22 crore, in 2015-16 Tk 428. 44 crore, in 2016-17 Tk 538.24 crore and for 2017- 18 Tk 807.25 crore have been proposed in the summery sent to the Planning commission.

Sources of The Planning commission said that the Housing and Public Works Ministry has sent letter to Physical Infrastructure Division of Planning Commission to hold a meeting of Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), with member of physical infrastructure cell Arastoo Khan in the chair.

Arastoo Khan told banglanews that as per request of the Housing and Public Works Ministry they would hold the meeting on June 8. 

Public Works Ministry sources informed that it has become essential to shift the complex to a wider space to remove the office space problem, for better coordination of the ministries and departments as well as creating a congenial environment and upholding the image of the government.

It has been proposed to construct the national secretariat complex into four blocks on 32 acres of land. 32 big ministries will be accommodated in two big blocks while 16 small ministries will get accommodation in two small size blocks.

Under the project, there will be auditorium, conference center, banks, post office, mosque and car parking will be set up.

The ministry sources informed that as the design of Louis I. Kahn, architect of Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban, has been revised by the Architecture Department causing reduce of 10 acres of land where Bangabandhu International Conference Center was built.

The ministry source further said that the complex will not cross the height of Jatiya Sangsad complex which is 150 feet high. The blocks will be of nine floors and there might be some under ground floors if necessary.

BDST: 1554 HRS, MAY 28, 2015
Edited by Shahjahan/RS/SMS