Major Irregularities in Mini Stadium Project

The project to build mini stadiums in various upazilas across the country was flawed from the very beginning. The project was undertaken without conducting a feasibility study. As a result, what was bound to happen did happen. Although a study was conducted after the project was initiated, the implementation phase has been plagued by various complications, resulting in slow progress.

Meanwhile, the cost has nearly doubled in one leap, and the timeline has been extended by two years. However, as of last April, the physical progress of the project, which is now nearly five years old, stood at only 37 percent. Expenditure incurred so far is Tk 820 crore 59 lakh, while financial progress is 28.74 percent. Under these circumstances, doubts have arisen over whether the project can be implemented even within the increased budget and extended timeline.

Officials concerned have said it is a matter of astonishment how a project involving such a large sum of money could be undertaken without a study. This is certainly a glaring example of negligence on everyone's part. The Planning Commission cannot avoid its responsibility in this regard either.

State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki told Agamir Somoy that no one wants taxpayer money to be wasted. Time-bound action plans are being developed to ensure speedy implementation of the project. Various measures are being taken to ensure that such a situation does not arise in future projects. Steps will be taken to ensure that the recommendations made by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) are effectively implemented.

The State Minister also said that it is not desirable in any way to undertake projects worth thousands of crores of taka without a feasibility study.

The final report of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) on the project will be published on 30 June (this year).

A review of the report reveals that during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 fiscal years, the Office of the Social Security Audit raised four objections. These objections resulted in a total financial loss of Tk 4 crore 77 lakh 58 thousand 662.

Project officials said that in response to the objections, replies have been sent in spreadsheet format to the audited entities. However, these have not yet been resolved. Delays in settling audit objections and deficiencies in providing information point to weaknesses in project management and increase the likelihood of similar irregularities recurring in the future.

IMED sources said the project was undertaken to create infrastructure suitable for organising sports competitions at the upazila level, to discover sporting talent at the grassroots level, and to expand training facilities. The National Sports Council, under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is implementing the project titled "Construction of Mini Stadiums at Upazila Level – 2nd Phase." The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on 4 May 2021. Its original cost was Tk 1,649 crore 32 lakh. Later, considering the ground reality, the cost was increased to Tk 2,855 crore 42 lakh through the first revision.

Timeline and Cost Overruns

The project's approved timeline was originally from July 2021 to June 2025. However, the deadline has been extended by two years, pushing it to June 2027. As a result, the cost has increased by 73.13 percent and the timeline by 50 percent. The ongoing project is being implemented across 201 upazilas in 58 districts of the country.

Reasons for Delays (as per IMED)

According to IMED, the project's implementation is being delayed due to structural, administrative, and technical problems; tenders being called and contractors appointed without hiring consulting firms; design changes during implementation; land acquisition complexities; transfer of khas (government-owned) land; ownership verification; administrative approvals; and delays in tender evaluation and work orders. The original Development Project Proposal (DPP) included 186 upazilas, but this was increased to 201 in the revised project. Additionally, many new tasks were added midway through the project.

Procurement and Quality Issues

The report also states that although procurement activities and annual procurement plans were prepared according to regulations, most packages did not progress according to schedule. While the quality of construction work is generally satisfactory, several deficiencies were found in ongoing projects, including: curing deficiencies, uneven fields and lack of grass, defective drainage systems, missing boundary walls and entrances, improper connection of pavilion chairs, and various finishing and maintenance defects.

Management and Manpower Shortfalls

Additional problems include manpower shortages in project management, the absence of a full-time project director, and irregular meetings of the PSC (Project Steering Committee) and PIC (Project Implementation Committee).

Regarding the project's weaknesses, the report notes that the lack of a full-time project director has disrupted regular supervision and effective decision-making in project implementation. Furthermore, repeated changes to infrastructure designs have increased both the time and cost of the work, while also creating a lack of coordination in implementation activities. A significant shortage of approved manpower has led to an over-reliance on overloaded management structures, which has reduced the efficiency of administrative and technical operations. The absence of a comprehensive and sustainable maintenance framework means that proper management and preservation of the infrastructure may face risks in the future.

Other risks facing the project include:

Increased construction costs due to changes in the rate schedule, which could put pressure on the project's financial management.

Land acquisition complications, which are likely to cause further delays and cost escalations.

Slowness or negligence on the part of contracting firms, which poses a risk to the quality of work and timely implementation.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, which could disrupt construction activities.