Model mosque project cost to rise by Tk713cr

The cost of the project undertaken to build model mosques in upazilas and districts will go up by Tk 713 crore while its tenure will increase by three years.

A senior official of the planning ministry told The Business Post the religious affairs ministry had sent the project’s second revision proposal to the Planning Commission seeking the additional cost and time.

He said the proposal was likely to be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday (today).

The project proposal has been revised as tender bidding and land acquisition are still underway.

Only 50 model mosques have been built so far while 370 are being constructed. Besides, the construction of 140 mosques is yet to begin though four and a half years have elapsed.

Under the initial project proposal, 560 mosques were to be built at Tk 8,722 crore coming from the state coffers.

The project was supposed to be completed in June this year after the first revision. Besides, the project cost was cut by Tk 340 crore in that revision.

Now in the second revision, the project is expected to be implemented by June 2024. Bangladesh Islamic Foundation is implementing the project.

According to the progress report till June, the project’s financial progress was 17.87 per cent and Tk 1,556 crore of the total fund had been spent. The overall progress was 32.4 per cent.

The mosques will have four storeys in districts, and three in upazilas.

The project aims to prevent militancy and violence against women as well as increase awareness of the government’s development activities.

The ECNEC is likely to approve nine other projects on Tuesday at the meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the planning ministry official said.

Of them, two are rural infrastructure development projects in Noakhali and Cumilla.

The one in Noakhali will have an additional cost of Tk 313 crore, which will come from the government exchequer.

Its initial cost was Tk 1,152 crore, and it was supposed to be implemented by June next year. But now with the additional cost, it will be implemented by June 2024.

The project aims to develop village roads in 20 upazilas of Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Feni to improve road communication. 23 markets will also be built.

The project in Cumilla named “Integrated Infrastructure Development of Cumilla City Corporation” will be implemented at a cost of Tk 1,538 crore, which will come from the government exchequer.

The project aims to construct a 15-storey modern building named “Nagar Bhaban” with two basements.