United News of Bangladesh

The government has extended the completion deadline of Mongla Commander Flotilla West (COMFLOT West) infrastructure development project by two years, a move that has nearly doubled the project cost. Originally scheduled for completion by December 2026, the strategic naval infrastructure project is now expected to be completed by December 2028, according to officials familiar with the revised Development Project Proposal (DPP). The time extension has led to a sharp rise in the estimated cost, pushing the total project outlay from Tk 699.94 crore to Tk 1,316.62 crore. Dream project derails; Khulna-Mongla railway struggles without freight flow Being implemented by the Bangladesh Navy under the Defence Ministry, the project aims to strengthen maritime security and logistics in the Mongla naval region, which covers the country’s deep sea and coastal areas including the strategically important Mongla seaport in Bagerhat district. Officials said the extension was unavoidable as delays and technical adjustments continued to drive up costs. “The extension of the implementation period has exposed the project to global price inflation, revised rate schedules and increased construction costs,” a senior planning ministry official told UNB. One of the major reasons behind the cost escalation is the project’s riverbank location. Soil tests carried out during implementation revealed weaker ground conditions than initially assessed, requiring an increase in the number, length and diameter of piles for buildings and other structures. In addition, global inflation and rising prices of construction materials, engineering equipment and furnishings further inflated the revised budget. The project design has also been modified to reduce long-term risks and costs As of June 2025, cumulative expenditure on the project stood at Tk 382.28 crore, with financial progress recorded at 54.61 percent and physical progress at 54 percent, officials said. Once completed, the upgraded COMFLOT West facilities are expected to enhance the Bangladesh Navy’s operational readiness in the Mongla region by ensuring secure berthing, accommodation, medical services, supply and maintenance facilities for a growing number of naval and commercial vessels. The project is also seen as crucial for safeguarding commercial shipping, fishing trawlers and other maritime activities linked to the country’s blue economy. Read more: Third consignment of US wheat arrives in Mongla  “Time overruns inevitably translate into cost overruns,” one official said, adding that meeting the revised completion deadline is now critical to preventing further escalation. The project is fully financed by government funds, adding pressure on the public exchequer at a time when development spending is already under scrutiny over delays and rising costs.