The deadline to set up technical schools and colleges in 100 upazilas was December this year, but no such institution has been fully constructed yet. Sources said the government’s project tenure is likely to be extended over the next three years to complete the task. Project sources said though construction has begun in 55 upazilas, none of the work has been completed yet. The project tenure started in January 2014 and the deadline is December 2018. The project cost is Tk. 2,281.69 crore.

It has been a big challenge getting the designated lands of 1.5 acres each for the institutions in these upazilas. So far, lands have been acquired in 95 upazilas. The remaining lands would be obtained by the end of this year, sources said. The purpose of the project is to expand technical education for making skilled human resources. The aim is to impart technical and vocational education by increasing enrolment to 20 per cent by 2020.

Yet, the authorities have not been able to complete a single building. Rather, the works are half-done because of various reasons. Asked about the slow progress of the work, project director Pijush Kanti Nath said the process of land acquisition is a very complicated one, thanks to pressure from various quarters, including political pressure from local leaders who have demanded that the institutions be set up near their residences.

Even the landowners are sometimes reluctant to sell the lands when suitable lands were found, he added. “When the project was undertaken, it was decided that it would be up to the school level, Classes VI to X. But later, it was decided that it would be upgraded to Class XII. Naturally, it took time to review the development project proposal (DPP) in December 2017,” he said.

“Earlier, the area of each institution, including five-storey academic and four-storey administrative buildings, was 26,000 sq. ft. But now it is 73,000 sq. ft. The design has been changed and the cost has escalated,” he said.

Earlier, there was no provision for rainwater harvesting in the project, but now, this is being done following the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This will ensure that the rainwater can be used for sanitation facilities during the rainy season.

He said the project work is going on rapidly in Sylhet, Chittagong, Noakhali, Rangpur and Joypurhat areas. He also said there were legal complications in some areas during the acquisition of land for the institutions.

There is a legal dispute on the acquisition of land in Madhabpur upazila in Habiganj but it has been settled. However, a case is going on in Rajapur of Jhalakathi district over the acquisition of land. Such matters are slowing down the progress of the project, he said. The project director, however, said it would be possible for them to complete the whole task in the next three years. “We have sent a proposal to the ministry to extend the project tenure for three years. It has not been approved

yet. We hope that will be done soon,” he said. Meanwhile, sources in the education ministry and the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) said work towards the recruitment of manpower, including teachers, was going on. The DTE had sent a proposal for 73 people for each technical school and colleges. But this figure may increase to 75, sources said.