Sheikh Hasina’s Tk 5.1 Million Mini Stadiums Now Costing Tk 140 Million Under Yunus Government

This project was passed by the ECNEC under pressure from advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan. However, Sheikh Hasina’s government had already completed the construction of 131 stadiums under this project at an average cost of 5.1 million taka.

❐ BD Digest Desk

The Awami League-led government had taken the initiative to build mini stadiums in every upazila of the country. In the first phase of the project called ‘Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium’, the cost of each stadium was estimated at only 5.1 million taka, under which 131 stadiums were built.

But in a few short years, under the Yunus government, the cost has skyrocketed—more than 140 million rupees have now been allocated for each stadium. That is, the cost per unit has increased by almost 28 times.

Despite the objections of the advisors to the cost increase at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Sunday, the revised project was finally approved due to the influence of advisor Asif Mahmud. Several officials present at the ECNEC said that despite questions being raised about the unusual increase in cost, it was passed at the request of local government advisor Sajeeb Bhuiyan. The cost of the project, which began during the Awami League government, has increased by more than 73 percent in the second phase.

The information search shows that the project is in its second phase, which will be approved in 2021. In the first amendment, the average cost of each stadium increased from 88.6 million taka to 142 million taka. However, between 2016 and 2019, the total cost of building 131 stadiums in the first phase was 667.9 million taka—that is, the average cost of each came down to just 51 million taka.

While the cost of each stadium was 5.1 million in 2019, it has increased to more than 140 million in 2025. The Ministry of Youth and Sports cited land acquisition, land filling, currency devaluation, land disputes and changes in rate schedules as reasons for the increase in cost. The ministry submitted an amendment proposal in February last year, bringing the total cost to 2,677 crore taka. Later, the Project Evaluation Committee increased it further and sent a proposal of 2,921 crore taka. Although the Planning Commission recommended reducing the cost, the ministry’s proposal was approved in the ECNEC meeting.

The project was approved in July 2021 at a cost of Tk 1,649 crore, which was scheduled to be completed by June 2025. Although the progress so far is only 45.48 percent, the ministry proposed a revised cost of Tk 2,856 crore along with a two-year extension. At this stage, Sheikh Russell’s name was dropped and an additional Tk 1,206 crore was added.

The ministry claims that the project aims to build sports infrastructure at the upazila level, organize local competitions and develop new players. However, the Planning Commission says that the number of stadiums in the project has increased by only 8.06 percent, while the cost has increased by more than 73 percent, which is not justified.

Planning Advisor Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud said at the press conference, “We have also raised questions about the rate schedule. We have proposed a reconsideration of whether it is reasonable to increase it. However, in the end, it was approved.”

On the other hand, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ubaidul Haque, claimed that the cost was less because private land was used earlier. But this time, land has to be acquired as there is no private land. Moreover, this time, a boundary wall has been included in the new design and the cost has been determined based on the 2022 rate schedule. As a result, the cost has increased.

It is worth noting that initially, the instructions were to build a stadium only if suitable land was available. However, currently, initiatives are being taken to build a stadium by acquiring land.

There is also strong criticism over the fact that the project is being pushed forward by showing excessive costs by destroying private land. Government officials themselves have criticized the interim government for trying to show off its achievements by moving an ongoing project around, seeing that it is unable to add anything new to the country’s infrastructure and development sectors.