Funding shortage delays CoU’s new campus

Construction of the new campus under the expansion project of Comilla University (CoU) remains incomplete despite three deadline extensions, with financial constraints bringing the remaining work to a standstill.

Although the project’s overall physical progress has reached 86 percent, construction has been halted due to a shortage of funds. University authorities said the campus could be handed over within one year after the Revised Development Project Proposal (RDPP) receives approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

According to project sources, a memorandum of understanding was signed on March 11, 2021, between Comilla University and the 24th Engineering Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army. Following the agreement, the army began land development and construction work in November 2021.

The project was originally scheduled for completion by June 2023. However, the deadline was first extended to June 2025 and later to June 2026 after the work could not be completed on time.

Despite the expiry of the third deadline, construction remains unfinished because of a funding shortage. Officials said an additional allocation of Tk 242 crore under the RDPP is awaiting approval.

The proposal has completed scrutiny by the Ministry of Education and is now being processed by the Planning Division. Once it receives clearance, it is expected to be placed before ECNEC.

University authorities expressed hope that the remaining work would be completed and the new campus handed over within a year of ECNEC’s approval.

Officials from the university’s Engineering Office said the project’s approved budget is Tk 1,655.50 crore. As of April 2026, Tk 1,437.48 crore had been spent, representing about 86 percent of the total allocation. The cumulative physical progress has also reached approximately 86 percent.

Several facilities have already been completed and are ready for handover, including the vice-chancellor’s residence, the medical and daycare centre, the main entrance gate and the electrical substation.

Finishing work is underway on several major structures, including the second female dormitory, staff residential building, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences building, Faculty of Science building, Faculty of Business Studies building, school building, second administrative building, second main gate, swimming pool and central mosque.

Construction is also continuing on two 10-storey male dormitories, a 10-storey female dormitory, a 10-storey teachers’ residential building, a 10-storey student dormitory, a 10-storey engineering faculty building and the five-storey Teachers-Students Centre (TSC).

Other ongoing works include the auditorium, international complex, sports complex, boundary wall, vehicle workshop, RCC roads, surface drainage system, lake excavation and reservoir construction, external electrification, gas line installation, an overhead water tank and deep tube wells.

Officials from the Bangladesh Army’s construction team said the remaining work would resume as soon as the RDPP is approved.