New installations to be proposed to enrich Suhrawardy Udyan

The Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument, third phase) project is going to see a number of new changes and additions to its original plan, as authorities plan to install a variety of structures at Suhrawardy Udyan, the historic site that witnessed significant moments of the country's journey towards liberation.

A revision proposal of the project will be placed at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) tomorrow.

For example, the government has decided to install bronze sculptures of Bangabandhu delivering his March 7 speech, as well as the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces, at the Udyan, instead of the previously planned concrete sculptures.

This proposal, along with others, seeks to increase the estimated cost of the project to Tk 397 crore, from its original estimation of Tk 265 crore.

If the proposal is approved, the project's implementation period will be extended by four and a half years, till June 2024, according to documents from the planning division.

This proposal, along with others, seeks to increase the estimated cost of the project to Tk 397 crore, from its original estimation of Tk 265 crore. If the proposal is approved, the project's implementation period will be extended by four and a half years, till June 2024.

Among the new things which will be set up in the area under phase three are holographic 3D instalments of the March 7 speech, light and sound show on Liberation War, and various forms of water fountains at entry and exit space of underground parking.

The new components also include two passenger lifts at car parking, fire hydrant, walkway lights, glass canopy for the underpass, glass boundary wall, Ansar camp and a police station.

Three toilet spaces will also be constructed inside the underground parking for the convenience of drivers.

In 1998, the government undertook the project to build Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan to commemorate the historical events that took place in the area.

The first phase of the project was completed in June 2007. Two years later, its second phase was approved to finish the incomplete 150-foot Independence Monument, which was completed in 2014.

Since some important spots, including those where Bangabandhu delivered his historic March 7 speech and Pakistani forces surrendered, had not been preserved, the government initiated phase three of the project.

Meanwhile, a total of 13 projects will be placed at tomorrow's Ecnec meeting, while seven out of the 13 will seek revisions.

The implementation period of the project to establish 10 government secondary schools in nearby areas of Dhaka city, which was supposed to be implemented between July 2017 and June 2020, will seek an extension for the third time till December 2024.

The cost for this project will rise from Tk 673 crore to 750 crore.

The project titled "Secondary Education Sector Investment Program", which had an original deadline between January 2014 and December 2017, has sought a seventh revision to extend the deadline till December 2023.

The will raise the cost from Tk 1,658 crore to Tk 3,827 crore.

Dredging project for Inner Bar of Mongla Port Channel, which had an original deadline between January 2020 and June 2022, now seeks extension of two years, till June 2024, with a rise in cost from Tk 794 crore to Tk 992 crore.

Another project for constructing the third Shitalakkhya Bridge in Narayanganj is set to see its eighth extension for implementation. This project, which had an original deadline of December 2013, will seek an extension till December 2023.

The original estimated cost of Tk 378 crore will rise to Tk 608 crore.