PM Tarique Rahman to lay foundation stone of new Secretariat in Agargaon on Victory Day

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will lay the foundation stone for the construction of the new Secretariat building at Agargaon in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on 16 December, the Victory Day. Necessary preparations and activities for the occasion are under way.

The information was disclosed on Sunday (25 October) at the second meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Housing and Public Works of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The meeting was chaired by the committee's president, Md Rezaul Karim Badsha.

The meeting was told that between 2009 and 2024, a total of 1,413 plots were allocated on political consideration in Gulshan, Banani, Uttara, the Purbachal New Town and the Jhilmil residential area. Of these, 944 plots were allocated in the Purbachal New Town project alone.

A committee formed following a writ filed in the High Court is working to examine whether there was any irregularity or unlawful activity in these plot allocations. The committee is scrutinising the documents of plots allocated under various RAJUK projects and sending reports to the ministry.

So far, irregularity reports have been received concerning 874 plots in Purbachal and 200 plots in Jhilmil. Document-related activities for these plots have been kept suspended for the time being, and the meeting was told that legal action will be taken if irregularities are proven in the investigation.

The meeting also discussed the reconstruction of the main structure of the graveyard of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The ministry said various initiatives have been taken to finish the work quickly and it is hoped it can be completed by December.

The committee also recommended quickly finishing the incomplete beautification and cleaning work of the park and premises adjacent to the graveyard.

Progress on installing solar power panels on the roofs of government buildings was also presented at the meeting. A Development Project Proposal (DPP) has been sent to the Planning Commission for approval to increase the use of clean energy through rooftop solar panels on government infrastructure.

If the project is implemented, it will be possible to generate 360 megawatts of electricity. After meeting the buildings' own demand, the surplus electricity can be supplied to the national grid.

Progress of various works completed this year by the Public Works Department centred on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban was also presented. At the end of the discussion, officials were directed to work with the highest priority on proper maintenance and cleanliness of the parliament building and on preserving its dignity.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahammad Sohel Manjur, and committee members Md Lutfuzzaman Babar, Sheikh Mojibur Rahman Iqbal, M Manjurul Karim Roni, Md Ruhul Amin and Md Tajuddin Khan, along with the officials concerned, attended the meeting.