Dhaka: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has officially detailed the second phase project aimed at constructing mini stadiums at the upazila level. Youth and Sports Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam addressed the media, clarifying that a report claiming a stadium initially budgeted at TK 51 lakhs will be built at a cost of TK 14 crore is misleading and incomplete.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam refuted the claims made in a recently published newspaper article. He emphasized that the report inaccurately suggested that the project was approved due to the influence of Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, despite objections from other advisors. The Secretary described the report as an attempt to misinform the public by not presenting the accurate details of the project.
The Secretary explained that the so-called ‘TK 51 lakhs Stadium’ mentioned in the article is part of the first phase of the Mini Stadium construction project at the upazila level, which had an average cost of approximately TK 53.52 lakh. This initial phase involved limited infrastructure development on government and private land, including a one-storey pavilion, toilet block, RCC benches, and field development.
In contrast, the current project, ‘Construction of Mini Stadiums at Upazila Level-2nd Phase (1st revised),’ is more extensive, involving 123 upazilas. The project includes significant infrastructure development, land acquisition, and land development, with an approved average cost of TK 14.20 crore. The new phase features more advanced facilities, including a three-storey pavilion building, a general gallery with a capacity of 1,000 spectators, a boundary wall, drainage system, solar panels, and other modern amenities.
The Secretary noted that the project has been renamed ‘Mini Stadium Project at Upazila Level,’ replacing the previous title, ‘Sheikh Russel Mini Stadium Construction Project.’ The cost and approval were determined according to the Planning Commission’s guidelines after a thorough review by an expenditure committee formed for this purpose.
He further explained that the increased project costs are attributed to land acquisition, expanded infrastructure, and updated pricing based on the 2022 PWD rate schedule rather than the 2018 schedule. The Secretary stressed that no individual influence or decision-making was involved in the project’s approval process, which follows a structured review by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) and relevant advisors.
The Secretary concluded by protesting against the published report, which he said misrepresented critical aspects of the project’s phased structure, budget, and implementation, thereby creating public fear and distrust in state development activities.