The Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered an investigation into why the Khulna Shipyard Road widening and development project failed to achieve its expected targets despite repeated extensions.
The directive came at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held on Tuesday at the Cabinet Division’s Public Administration room in the Secretariat, according to officials.
The project was approved by ECNEC in July 2013. It faced repeated deadline extensions over the past 12 years, but still did not achieve the desired outcome.
The Prime Minister also instructed an inquiry into the reasons behind the prolonged delay and those responsible, said officials.
According to project details, the Khulna Shipyard Road widening and development project was initially approved at Tk98.90 crore with a two-year implementation period, scheduled for completion in June 2015.
However, the executing agency failed to start work within the stipulated time.
Later, the deadline was extended in phases. The first extension added one year, followed by a second extension of two years, setting a new target of 2018.
As the work remained incomplete, further extensions were granted in stages—three years in the third phase, three years under the first revision, two years in the fifth phase, six months in the sixth phase and another six months in the seventh phase.
The latest deadline expired in June 2025. By then, physical progress reached 70 per cent. To complete the remaining work, the deadline was further extended until December under an eighth phase.
Project cost also increased several times. It rose by Tk 28 crore in the first revision and by Tk 132 crore in the second revision, taking the cost from Tk 98.90 crore to Tk 259 crore. Later, the cost was slightly revised down to Tk 254 crore.
Officials said the contractor firm withdrew funds and went missing, further delaying implementation. Due to prolonged inactivity, the contract was cancelled on August 7.
Press Secretary Saleh Shibli said the Prime Minister directed a probe into why the project failed to achieve its target even after 12 years of repeated extensions.
He said action will be taken against those responsible.
