A government initiative designed to bolster the institutional capacity of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) has become a stark example of “incapacity,” as it faces a third proposed extension.
Originally slated for completion within three and a half years by June 2023, the project is now expected to take seven and a half years to finish following repeated delays.
The third revision proposal for the project, titled “Strengthening the Capacity of the Department of Livestock Services”, is set to be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.
Fully funded by the government and implemented by the DLS under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the project aims to modernise infrastructure, accelerate veterinary and extension services, and enhance food security through safe animal protein production.
ECNEC initially approved the project on 31 December 2019, with a budget of Tk220.59 crore and an implementation period from January 2020 to June 2023.
Successive revisions, budget shifts
However, the work could not be completed within the stipulated timeframe. The first revision extended the deadline to June 2024 and increased the budget to Tk 252.50 crore.
A subsequent second revision pushed the deadline to June 2026 while reducing the cost by Tk38.80 crore to Tk213.70 crore.
The current third revision proposal seeks a final extension until June 2027, with the budget further trimmed by Tk45.41 lakh to Tk213.24 crore based on recommendations from the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC).
The project proposal attributes the protracted delays to the Public Works Department’s (PWD) slow progress in finalising building designs, selecting contractors, and signing agreements. Significant time was also lost in removing an old two-storey building at the construction site.
As the structure was considered a heritage site by the Department of Archaeology, the DLS had to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and complete an auction process before demolition.
Moreover, time was consumed by preliminary works, including constructing alternative gates and roads, setting up site offices and labour sheds, removing old installations, and managing utility lines for electricity, water, and telephone services.
Physical progress and remaining tasks
According to the proposal, while the structural work of the DLS main building is finished, several tasks remain, including sanitary work, glass fitting, plastering, tiling, painting, gardening, and electro-mechanical works.
The construction of connecting roads and a main gate is also pending. As of May 2026, the project has achieved 75 per cent physical progress, while financial progress stands at 58.50 per cent with Tk 124.86 crore spent.
The proposal also noted that additional work beyond the original design – such as constructing an alternative road, relocating a water reserve tank, and earth-filling around the building – required an extra Tk 73.55 crore as per PWD estimates.
Final warnings and accountability
Planning Commission sources stated that the PEC reviewed the third revision proposal on 19 May and recommended a final extension until June 2027.
The commission warned that if the work is not completed by this new deadline, the project may be closed in its unfinished state, and departmental action should be taken against those responsible for the delay.
In recommending the approval, the Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Institutions Division of the Planning Commission noted that the project’s completion would improve the DLS’s infrastructure, create a better working environment, increase employee efficiency, and accelerate veterinary and extension services.
