What is the rationale for setting up an external project office in Dhaka?

Road and Bridge Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has expressed his displeasure at the fact that the project’s office outside of Dhaka is in Dhaka. Addressing concerned officials at the Ministry of Roads, the Minister said: ‘Buildings are being constructed under various projects throughout the city of Dhaka. What is the need for all this? Road office, project office wherever you go. Bailey Road, Banani, Gulshan, next to Banani Cemetery, Shyamoli, Mirpur, how much is needed? So why separate road construction? In the future, when taking on the project, the need to build offices and other permanent facilities should be considered.

He spoke at a meeting to review projects and progress under the Indian Credit Program on Sunday (September 13) morning. Obaidul Quader joined the meeting by videoconference from his official residence. Reva Ganguly Das, the outgoing Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, and Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Department of Roads and Highways, were present on the online platform.

He inaugurated construction of the third Shitalakshya Bridge over the Shitalakshya River in Narayanganj Port in January 2016, but expressed frustration at not getting the desired speed.

He said: “The bridge is being built at a cost of around Tk 600 crore with joint funding from the governments of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. More than two kilometers of connecting road will be built with a bridge of approximately one and a quarter kilometers. The project has been slow due to the Corona epidemic and other reasons, including delays in the release of funds from the Saudi fund. I hope that the construction of this bridge, which is progressing at a snail’s pace, gains momentum now.

The minister said: ‘I have a complaint that most of the officials involved in the project have offices in Dhaka. The bridge is being built in Narayanganj, and why the project office in Dhaka? This is also one of the reasons for the delay in project implementation. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it today. There will be offices in the project area, not in Dhaka.