The construction of Rangpur Hi-Tech Park has remained suspended for six months following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, raising concerns over its future.

Indian contractor Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) withdrew its workforce after the change in government. Authorities have yet to provide a timeline for resumption.

To cut costs, plans for a dormitory and cineplex have been scrapped, project officials confirmed.

Construction materials at the 10.77-acre site in Rangpur City Corporation's Ward-9 lie scattered, cranes and heavy machinery stand idle, and only a handful of security personnel remain present.

Initiated in 2017, the hi-tech park was envisioned to develop skilled manpower and boost employment in the ICT sector.

On April 25, 2017, the Ecnec approved Tk 1,846.09 crore for 12 district-level hi-tech parks. Of this, the government allocated Tk 302.09 crore, with the remainder coming from an Indian loan. The project is being implemented by the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority under the Ministry of Information and Technology.

The original plan included three buildings: a seven-storey Multi-Talent Building (MTB) with a steel structure, a three-storey canteen and cineplex, and a dormitory. Construction was supposed to start in 2017 and conclude by 2020. However, after repeated delays, work was officially inaugurated on May 26, 2022, with a revised completion deadline of July 2024. To date, only 25 percent of construction has been completed.

According to sources, the last recorded construction activity took place on August 2, 2024. Security concerns led Indian contractors to leave, they added.

Project Director AKM Fazlul Haque said construction would resume within a week, confirming the revised plan now excludes the dormitory and cineplex.

The focus remains on the seven-storey MTB, along with electrical substations, boundary walls, underground tanks, gates, guard rooms, and a sewerage treatment plant. These changes have reduced project costs to Tk 150 crore.

"The original project timeline has expired, but an extension has been approved for one year, with a possible further extension until 2027. The Indian contractors have arrived in Dhaka and are expected to return to Rangpur soon," Haque said.

Dr Abdullah Al Mahbub, associate professor at Begum Rokeya University, said, "This project is crucial for empowering our youth in the ICT sector. Further delays could hinder the region's economic and technological growth."

Meanwhile, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal assured that efforts were being made to restart the project soon.