The government has revised an ongoing project for enhancing counterterrorism capacity of Dhaka police, enhancing cost about four times, officials said.
Following failures of the Bangladesh Police (BP) in implementing the project in time with the original cost, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved it on Tuesday.
Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the ECNEC endorsed eight other projects along with the BP's one at a combined total of Tk 17.30 billion, planning minister MA Mannan told reporters after the meeting.
The BP undertook the 'Enhancing capacity of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police in combating terrorism and ensuring public security project' at Tk 796.6 million in 2019 for completion by June 2021.
As it failed to finish the project in due time, the ECNEC on Tuesday revised its cost to 3.47 times higher to Tk 2.29 billion from the original cost.
Now the BP is allowed to finish the job by June 2023.
The BP will buy 12 armoured vehicles, 20 escort vehicles and five floodlight vehicles under this project to beef up its oversee for a better law and order countrywide.
Meanwhile, the BP has said the cost and time of the projects have been increased due to some tax-related complexities for importing the vehicles.
Briefing reporters, Mr Mannan said the ECNEC on Tuesday approved nine projects where Tk 6.34 billion would come from local resources, Tk 14.4 million from the organization concerned and the rest Tk 10.95 billion as project assistance.
Four of Tuesday's approved projects are new while five are revised ones, he added.
He said the PM directed the authorities concerned laying emphasis on boosting agricultural production in the country alongside ensuring proper preservation, processing and export of those abroad.
The PM said it is not always wise to build only structures under any project, but it is also needed to groom necessary manpower and impart them proper training to run machinery and equipment under structures to render public services.
She also underscored the need for using locally assembled vehicles preferably from Pragati in government projects instead of imported vehicles, Mr Mannan quoted the premier.
She asked the authorities concerned to provide technical support and expertise to shrimp farmers in the coastal region so they could clear sand, owing to cyclones, storms and tidal surge, from ghers.
Besides, she asserted that project directors work on their respective projects and sites instead of discharging their duties as additional charge.
Mannan said the PM also called for following respective rules and regulations in the project management alongside trying to reduce the tendency of roping foreign consultants in development projects.
Planning Division secretary Satyajit Karmakar said the prime minister asked all concerned to remain cautious before the project formulation.
He said the trend of revising projects would come down in future ECNEC meetings.
Echoing with the secretary, Mr Mannan said they are trying desperately to this effect.
Construction of 112 residential flats for the officials of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat at Agargaon at Tk 982.2 million, Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries (1st revised) at an additional cost of Tk 5.89 billion, Feasibility study to construct important bridges on rural roads at Tk 800 million, Countrywide mobile library project (2nd revised) at an additional cost of Tk 374.7 million, Improvement of equipment for technical education at Tk 980.1 million, Establishment of Dhaka Technical Teachers Training Institute (3rd revised) at a reduced cost of Tk 25.5 million, and Installation of prepaid gas meter for TGTDCL (3rd revised) at an additional cost of Tk 1.74 billion.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
