The Foreign Office has sought Tk 195 million for appointing a design consultant as it plans to build a chancery complex and envoy's residence in Saudi Arabia, officials said.
The ministry of foreign affairs has proposed purchasing furniture and electronic appliances at Tk 62 million for the chancery complex and Tk 25 million for the ambassador's house, they added.
Officials involved with the project said the ministry has also proposed higher cost for building the chancery complex for the Consulate General at Jeddah and the ambassador's residence in Riyadh, the capital.
The Foreign Office has recently undertaken two development projects for constructing the Bangladesh chancery complex in Jeddah at Tk 2.08 billion and Bangladesh House in Riyadh at Tk 344.1 million.
The ministry has recently sought approval for both projects from the Planning Commission (PC).
Under the chancery complex construction project, the ministry has asked for Tk 150 million to hire consultants, who will prepare design of the complex and supervise the construction work.
Besides, the ministry has sought Tk 45 million for preparing the design of the Bangladesh ambassador's residence in Riyadh and supervising the construction work.
Commission officials said they are scrutinising the both proposals before approval because they have found flaws in cost estimates.
If the government needs to spend Tk 195 million for design and supervision consultants for constructing an office building and an ambassador's house, it will not be a viable, said a government procurement expert.
Officials said the ministry has also proposed Tk 0.40 million for constructing per square metre (sqm) of chancery complex bhaban and the Bangladesh Bahban (Ambassador's house).
The Foreign office is now constructing another chancery complex in Riyadh under a different project where it is spending Tk 0.12 million for building each of square metre.
Another Commission official said they are verifying the construction cost as the ministry has sought 233.33 per cent higher funds than the similar project in the same country.
Officials said the ministry has proposed constructing a huge 6,354sqm chancery complex, 6,060sqm residential building for five officers, and 6,300sqm residential building for 39 staffers in Jeddah.
They said it will build a huge 1,463sqm residential building on a 3,577 sqm of areas for the envoy in Riyadh.
The construction of such luxurious buildings for a poor country like Bangladesh is unacceptable, said the government procurement specialist.
He said as the construction cost seems to be higher, the Planning Commission should cross-check the project proposals before approval.
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