The government has approved a proposal to relocate the Bangladesh Secretariat from Abdul Gani Road to the former trade fair ground in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, aiming to make the new complex operational by 2029.
The approval came at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Sunday.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the move was intended to speed up government operations and improve coordination among ministries.
The new Secretariat will be built on around 31 acres of land allocated for the purpose in Dhaka’s master plan, he said.
“It will be an aesthetically designed complex, with its design maintaining a connection with the original concept of architect Louis I Kahn. However, it will not be an exact replica of his design. The Bangladesh Secretariat will be built in keeping with the spirit of that concept,” Nasimul said.
The government hopes to begin office operations at the new site in 2029, with work expected to start soon, he added.
The proposed complex will cover around 33.16 lakh square feet and include three basement levels, parking facilities for 3,800 vehicles and 14 buildings, each with 12 floors, according to the cabinet secretary.
Nasimul said the basic design concept for the new Secretariat had been approved, but detailed work remained, including electrical, plumbing, architectural and structural engineering designs.
Further assessments will be conducted before the government proceeds with the next stages of the project, he added.
He said 16 ministries are already operating outside the main Secretariat building. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is also working from this section, making him the first prime minister in the country’s history to work there, according to the cabinet secretary.
The prime minister wants the government to work more efficiently and in a coordinated manner, Nasimul said, adding that the relocation plan was intended to achieve that goal.
Several underground roads and underpasses will be needed to maintain smooth traffic movement around the Secretariat, Nasimul said.
The government is planning the necessary infrastructure to ensure traffic flows smoothly through the area, he added.
The project will be financed entirely by the government. However, the total cost of relocating the Secretariat has not yet been finalised, he said.
Explaining the need for the move, Nasimul compared an inefficient system to a blunt tool that cannot perform its intended task.
The cabinet secretary said the government might undertake a development project at the existing Secretariat premises on Abdul Gani Road after the relocation.
However, no final decision has been made on the future use of the site.
