The government plans to launch a project to renovate various infrastructures of the parliament building and convert the North Plaza of the National Assembly into an office.
The project titled - “Ancillary work including conversion of North Plaza of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban into office,” has been proposed to the Planning Commission, an official of planning commission said.
“A meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) was recently held to discuss the issue,” he said adding that, the cost of its implementation has been estimated at Tk 49 crore.
Once approved after processing, the project will be implemented by the Department of Urban Development under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works starting this year and ending by June 2022, according to the working paper of the PEC meeting.
According to the project proposal, Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban is an internationally recognized unique and modern architectural monument.
The Secretariat of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad started its activities in 1974 with 427 members in two branches.
In 2020, there were 1,321 officers working in 7 branches of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat. Due to the increase in the number of officers, it has become difficult for the National Parliament Secretariat to provide office space for all.
At the 31st meeting of the Parliament Secretariat Commission, the Chief Whip proposed to make office space in the form of a corporate office through necessary renovations in a spacious 52,000 square feet space under the North Plaza of the Parliament building.
The Prime Minister and the members of the Commission have agreed to the proposal.
That is why the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban will be renovated and modernized by constructing centreposts with reception rooms at various entrances of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and constructing car parking sheds at Sangsad Bhaban - 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
The project is proposed to include its furniture supply work and electrical modernization of office rooms in various branches of the Parliament building below North Plaza.
The main activities of the proposed project are civil and sanitary work of modernization of the ground floor of 4,846.23 sq.m. Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, modernization of office through modernization of 4,646.23 sq.m. north floor of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, removal of all bricks and marble from North Plaza to prevent water leakage from the roof of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area.
In addition, the project includes repairing of the roof, replacement of new brick and marble stones, ancillary work, 217 sq m architect design, reception halls at various entrances to the National Assembly building, Centrepost, modernization of the ground floor of the Jatiya Sangsad buildings.
Besides, necessary furniture will be provided for the use of MPs living in 26 MP buildings, electrical work will be done in different branches of the Parliament building including installation of electrical fittings and purchase of computers, printers and scanners.