The government is considering relocating the Bangladesh Secretariat to Agargaon in Dhaka, with a final decision expected at an upcoming Cabinet meeting, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said on Tuesday.
“We have been working on the issue for about four months. A policy-level decision was taken to examine the proposal, and we have already completed some preliminary work so that implementation can begin quickly if the Cabinet approves it,” he said.
The minister was speaking at a programme organised by the Public Works Department (PWD) on the transfer and posting of its executive engineers.
Zakaria said the proposal emerged during discussions on an earlier master plan for the Secretariat, which included demolishing Building No. 1 and constructing a new building at the site.
During subsequent Cabinet discussions, ministers revisited the idea of developing Agargaon as a second administrative hub alongside the Parliament complex.
The government would try to complete the proposed work during its current tenure if the Cabinet approved the plan, he said.
“If the Cabinet decides to proceed with the plan, we will try to complete it within this government's tenure, in line with the Prime Minister's wishes,” Zakaria said, adding that he did not want to disclose further details before a final decision was made.
Explaining the reasons for considering relocation, the minister said the existing Secretariat lacked sufficient space to accommodate all ministries and provide adequate parking facilities.
“We do not have enough space here. Several ministries are located outside the Secretariat, and we cannot provide adequate space for every ministry. The parking situation is also difficult,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the condition of the existing buildings, many of which were constructed in the 1960s.
Given Bangladesh’s earthquake risks, the age and condition of the buildings had raised questions about their long-term suitability, he said.
The government was examining the overall situation, including space shortages, parking constraints and the condition of the buildings, before deciding on the Secretariat’s future, the minister added.
The relocation proposal remains under consideration, and the Cabinet has yet to make a final decision.