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administration and court offices from Old Dhaka, reducing congestion and improving court operations.

Following the discussions, ECNEC instructed that a comparative study be conducted before reconsidering the high-rise proposal.

Meanwhile, the meeting approved extensions for three projects -- each for the fifth time -- prompting the prime minister to form a committee led by the cabinet secretary to investigate why repeated delays were necessary.

One of the projects, widening a district road between Barisal and Patuakhali, was launched in July 2018 at Tk 302 crore and scheduled for completion in June 2021. Its deadline has now been extended to December 2026, with costs rising by Tk 17 crore.

Another project to upgrade the Barisal-Bhola-Lakshmipur district road, taken up in March 2019 at Tk 302 crore, has seen its cost escalate to Tk 502 crore. Its deadline has been pushed to June 2030.

The Goma Bridge over the Rangamati River in Barisal, initiated in July 2018 at Tk 57 crore, was supposed to be completed by June 2024. The deadline has now been extended to June 2028, with costs rising to Tk 92 crore.

In total, ECNEC approved 14 new and revised projects yesterday involving an expenditure of Tk 13,445 crore.