Bangla Press Desk: The proposal to relocate the Bangladesh Secretariat to the site of the former Dhaka International Trade Fair grounds in Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, has been approved by the Cabinet.
The approval was granted during a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday (October 18) at the Secretariat, presided over by the Prime Minister.
Following the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani announced the decision during a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room.
The government is moving forward with the objective of having the Secretariat operational in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar by 2029.
According to relevant officials, the estimated cost for the Secretariat relocation project is 3,409.44 crore BDT (34,094,429,000 BDT). The implementation period is set from November of this year through December 2029.
Details from the proposal:
The current Bangladesh Secretariat complex spans 17.57 acres and comprises 13 buildings, eight of which were constructed before independence. Specifically, buildings 1, 2, 3, and 8 were built between 1937 and 1939, while building 5 was constructed in 1947; none of these structures were built to be earthquake-resistant. Given that Dhaka is located in an earthquake-prone zone, conducting the operations of key government ministries and departments in these facilities poses a significant risk.
Furthermore, the lack of adequate space for officials and staff hinders a proper working environment. The buildings also lack a sufficient number of washrooms; as they are occupied by more personnel than their intended capacity, maintaining a hygienic work environment has become impossible. The existing Secretariat complex offers approximately 1.876 million square feet of office space. However, an additional 1 million square feet or more is required to meet the extra space demands of various ministries and to accommodate ministries and departments currently located outside the Secretariat compound.
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