Staff Reporter:

A proposed 15-kilometre elevated road project in the haor area has raised serious questions over financial transparency, with records showing Tk154 crore spent on paper despite no land acquisition on the ground. Of that amount, nearly Tk150 crore has been reported under land acquisition costs. With the project now cancelled, the key question remains: where did the money go?

A review of official documents shows that the bulk of the project cost was allocated to land acquisition. However, officials concerned have clearly stated that no land was acquired under the project, and no funds were actually disbursed for this purpose. According to rules, land acquisition cannot be shown without fund disbursement. Therefore, the Tk150 crore should have been returned to the state treasury. Whether that has happened remains unclear, creating serious confusion.

In this situation, the government has initiated a move to scrutinize the full accounting of the reported Tk 154 crore expenditure. Officials from the Planning Commission said that showing such a large amount of spending before the actual implementation of the project is unusual and will be strictly examined.

Documents also show significant spending in other sectors. Tk1.31 crore was reported for salaries and allowances, Tk0.87 crore for vehicle rentals, Tk 0.24 crore for office rent, Tk0.65 crore for consultancy services, and Tk0.10 crore for honorarium and fees. Additionally, Tk2.23 crore was shown under supply and services, Tk0.13 crore for computers and accessories, and Tk0.40 crore for furniture procurement.

The project was approved at an ECNEC meeting in January 2023 with an estimated cost of Tk5,651 crore. It aimed to establish year-round road connectivity between Mithamain, Itna, Austagram, Kishoreganj Sadar, and Dhaka, including road widening, bridges, culverts, toll plazas, and other infrastructure.

However, allegations later emerged that the project was politically motivated, reportedly undertaken to appease then President Abdul Hamid. Following a shift in the political landscape, the project was eventually scrapped. Planning Commission officials also reported that an additional Tk2.08 crore was wasted during the interim period.

Questions have also been raised over the feasibility study. Officials said unusually high traffic projections were used to justify the project. Studies by BRTA and BUET projected daily traffic of 25,800 vehicles by 2030 and 35,500 by 2040—figures exceeding those of major infrastructures like the Jamuna and Padma bridges, raising concerns about the study’s credibility.

Environmental concerns were also cited as a key reason behind the cancellation.

Overall, large expenditures shown before any physical work, the absence of land acquisition, and inflated projections point to serious irregularities. Authorities say an investigation is underway to determine how the reported Tk154 crore was actually spent.