Construction costs of mini stadiums soar by 26 times

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM

Construction costs of mini stadiums soar by 26 times

Bangla Press Desk: Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the interim administration has halted several mega sports infrastructure projects approved during her tenure. Under the directive of sports and youth ministry, the construction of the Sheikh Hasina Cricket Stadium in Purbachal has been suspended. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which was financing the project, stopped work before finalising contractors for the 37-acre stadium designed by Australian consultancy firm Populous with a proposed seating capacity of 45,000. The interim government also froze the proposed Sheikh Kamal Sports Complex, a Tk2100 crore project on 49.12 acres of land. Around Tk3.5 crore had already been spent on feasibility studies, and the project was awaiting ECNEC approval. However, the initiative to construct a sports facility in every upazila under the name of Sheikh Russel, the late younger brother of Sheikh Hasina, has not been suspended. From July 2016 to July 2019, the first phase saw the completion of 131 mini stadiums.

The project continued under the interim government, now renamed “Upazila Mini Stadiums.” The Ministry of Youth and Sports is currently implementing the second phase of 201 mini stadiums, approved during the previous Awami League administration. Instead of cancelling, the government extended the project deadline by two years and revised the budget significantly. In the first phase, the revised estimated expenditure for 131 mini stadiums was Tk74.11 crore. In contrast, the second phase’s revised budget for 201 mini stadiums stands at Tk 2,855.42 crore — an increase of 38.52 times. Initially scheduled for completion by June 2025, the deadline has now been extended to June 2027. At a post-ECNEC press briefing, Youth and Sports Secretary Md Mahbub-ul-Alam explained the cost surge. Unlike the first phase, which was built on government khas land with limited facilities such as single-storey pavilions, toilets, RCC benches, and field improvements, the new phase includes broader infrastructure, land acquisition, and development across 123 upazilas.

The numbers show the difference clearly. In the first phase, the average construction cost per stadium was Tk53.52 lakh. In the second phase, the figure has skyrocketed to Tk 14.20 crore per stadium — 26.54 times higher. Both the Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council (NSC) confirmed these figures after ECNEC’s approval. Additional Secretary Md Iqbal Hossain explained that the budget increase was based on updated Public Works Department (PWD) schedules: “The 2018 PWD rate was used in the first phase. By 2022, costs had risen significantly. A cost review committee comprising the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division, Youth and Sports Ministry, project directors, and experts recommended the revised figures, which were then approved.” As of now, 39 mini stadiums have been completed under this project, including 14 under the interim government. Construction is ongoing at 48 more sites, while the NSC has taken up implementation for the remaining stadiums.

The NSC also detailed cost breakdowns. In the second phase, Tk3.38 crore per stadium has been allocated for land acquisition, with Tk679.60 crore already earmarked for 123 stadiums. Each field upgrade will cost Tk2.10 crore. Pavilion buildings, which averaged Tk25.16 lakh for a single-storey structure in the first phase, are now being expanded to three-storey facilities, raising average costs to Tk2.73 crore. Seating infrastructure has also been upgraded. While first-phase stadiums only had 35 RCC benches at Tk1.46 lakh, the new phase will include five-tier, 300-foot galleries, costing Tk2.17 crore each. Additionally, Tk14.49 lakh per stadium has been budgeted for pavilion seating installation. Unlike the earlier projects, which required no land purchases and built only minimum-sized football fields, the second-phase stadiums will be constructed on purchased plots measuring 430 feet by 330 feet. Still, like the first phase, these grounds will not be cricket-compatible, a decision that could hinder grassroots cricket training and development. Despite significant investments, the NSC has yet to officially hand over the completed stadiums to upazila sports associations (usually overseen by UNOs). Maintenance and monitoring structures are still absent, raising concerns about sustainability. Critics argue that building 201 mini stadiums simultaneously under such inflated costs, especially towards the end of the interim government’s tenure, naturally raises serious questions. This article was originally published on Daily Sun.

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

Construction costs of mini stadiums soar by 26 times

Comments (0)

Join the Conversation

No comments yet

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Turkey imposes bans on 102 players in gambling probe

England great Anderson to play on for Lancashire

Shanto’s century powers Bangladesh past 500 in Sylhet Test

Bangladesh declare at 587, take 301-run lead in Sylhet Test

Growing hype faces test: Bangladesh seek to break Nepal jinx

Sri Lanka board tells cricketers to stay in Pakistan after bomb blast