Secretariat move to Agargaon awaits cabinet decision

Final decision regarding the planned relocation of the Bangladesh Secretariat to Agargaon will be made at an upcoming cabinet meeting, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said on Tuesday, citing space shortages, parking constraints and concerns over ageing buildings.

The government has been examining the proposal for about four months, with preliminary work already under way to expedite implementation if the cabinet gives its approval, the minister said.

While speaking at a Public Works Department (PWD) programme on the transfer and posting of executive engineers, Minister Zakaria added that the proposal emerged from discussions on an earlier master plan for the secretariat, which envisaged demolishing Building No. 1 and constructing a new one. Subsequent cabinet discussions raised the possibility of developing Agargaon as a second administrative hub alongside the parliament complex.

If approved, the government would seek to complete the relocation during its current tenure, in line with the prime minister’s wishes, he said, declining to disclose further details before a final decision.

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The minister said the existing secretariat lacked sufficient space to accommodate all ministries, forcing several to operate from outside the complex. Parking facilities were also inadequate.

He added that many secretariat buildings dated back to the 1960s, raising concerns about their long-term suitability given Bangladesh’s earthquake risks.

The government is assessing the space constraints, parking problems and condition of the buildings before deciding on the secretariat’s future.