The Khulna Development Authority (KDA), the implementing agency of the Khulna Shipyard Road Widening and Development Project, kept Tk13.51 crore allocated for the project in its own fund for nearly two years. Officials concerned have also been found responsible for the failure to complete the project even after more than a decade.
These findings emerged from an investigation conducted by a committee formed on the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
At the latest meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), the prime minister also instructed officials to identify the individuals or organisations responsible, take legal action according to rules and present the progress at the next Ecnec meeting.
At the Ecnec meeting held on 9 June this year, the prime minister ordered an investigation into the unusual delay in implementing the project. Following the directive, the committee formed for the investigation recently submitted its report.
The investigation report said the allocated Tk13.51 crore had been transferred to KDA’s own fund and kept there for nearly two years, which was against government financial discipline. It recommended identifying those involved, taking legal action against them and depositing the entire amount back into the government treasury along with interest as soon as possible.
The report also said that although the second revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) approved expenditure of Tk253.50 crore under the government’s Own Fund (GOB), approval from the Finance Division on the financing arrangement had not been obtained. Therefore, approval from the Finance Division must be secured before approving the third revised DPP.
The investigation committee identified responsible KDA officials and recommended that the Ministry of Housing and Public Works take action against them according to rules. It also recommended preparing a realistic action plan considering the importance of the project, ensuring strict monitoring by the ministry and completing the remaining work within the next year.
When contacted, Project Director and KDA Executive Engineer Md Arman Hossain declined to comment. He advised contacting the KDA chairman.
KDA Chairman SM Shafiqul Alam said they had not yet received the investigation committee’s report. However, he acknowledged that Tk13.51 crore had been kept in KDA’s fund, saying it was done during the tenure of the previous chairman. Later, the money was returned following instructions from the ministry.
Regarding the delay in the project, he cited delays in land acquisition, obtaining clearance from the Ministry of Defence, approval from the Ministry of Industries and the relocation of utilities by Khulna Wasa.
He claimed that Wasa was supposed to complete the work within six months but failed to do so even after one year, which contributed to the delay in project implementation.
Regarding action against those responsible, the chairman said, “If anyone’s responsibility is established through the investigation, action will certainly be taken against them. There is no scope to spare anyone in this regard. Because there are documents, and the documents will speak for themselves.”
Several attempts were made to contact Housing and Public Works Ministry Secretary Md Nazrul Islam for his comments, but he did not respond.
Two-year project remains incomplete after more than a decade
The Khulna Shipyard Road Widening and Development Project was approved by Ecnec in July 2013. Implemented by KDA, the two-year project was initially estimated to cost Tk98.90 crore and was scheduled to be completed by June 2015.
However, the implementing agency failed to even begin the work within the scheduled timeframe.
Later, the project’s deadline was extended seven times. The tenure was first extended by one year, then by two years, followed by another one-year extension, three years through the first revision, two years later, six months afterwards and another six months in the final extension. The extended deadline ended in June 2025.
By then, the physical progress of the project was only 70 per cent. To complete the remaining work, the project period was extended for an eighth time until December 2026. As a result, the duration of the two-year project has now stretched beyond 12 years.
Alongside the extension of the timeline, the project cost also increased repeatedly. The initial cost of Tk98.90 crore was increased by Tk28 crore in the first revision and by another Tk132 crore in the second revision, raising it to nearly Tk259 crore. Later, the cost was slightly reduced and fixed at Tk253.50 crore.
At the Ecnec meeting held on 9 June, discussions were held over the prolonged delay in implementing the project, and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman ordered an investigation.
After the Ecnec meeting at the secretariat, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly said, “The project period has been extended repeatedly. But why the desired targets were not achieved and who are involved in this will be investigated, and the prime minister has issued necessary instructions to take action against those responsible.”
Meanwhile, since taking office, the government has taken a strict stance against the culture of repeated project extensions, cost increases and delays in development projects.
At the first meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) under the government, the prime minister instructed that delays in projects not completed within the scheduled timeframe without valid reasons must be investigated and disciplinary action taken against those responsible.
