A. Background of the project:

The current government under the dynamic leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had taken visionary step towards the enlightment of Bangladesh in the field of telecommunication. The enactment of the act was the first valiant step towards the development of telecommunication sector of Bangladesh. In order to facilitate a quick and stable socio-economic development and to provide a sustainable and dependable telecommunication services, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) was formed on 31st January of 2002, under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 has delineated its objectives to encourage the orderly development of telecommunication system that enhance and strengthens the social and economic welfare of Bangladesh. The activities of BTRC is to ensure the reliable accessibility, reasonable pricing and modern approachable services to all citizen of Bangladesh. Ensuring the smooth functioning of BTRC will also help to increase the efficiency of BTRC people. It also reduces the discriminations irrespective of choices. The smooth activities of BTRC also help to encourage the introduction of new services and to create a favorable atmosphere for the local and foreign investors who intend to invest in the telecommunication sector of Bangladesh.

After the enactment of Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001the government of Bangladesh sanctioned 41 posts in 2002 for running the operational activities of BTRC and BTRC started functioning in a rented house in the same year. The government of Bangladesh has increased the manpower of BTRC up to 369 in 2008 by sanctioning the new organogram of BTRC. After getting this approval, BTRC has successfully completed its appointment into the all sanctioned posts and since then BTRC has been operating its activities in a large sphere. At present BTRC has 1 Chairman, 1 Vice-chairman, 3 Commissioners, 1 Commission secretary, 6 Director Generals, 22 Directors, 1 Senior Medical Officer, 64 Deputy Directors, 178 Senior Assistant Director/Assistant Directors, 1 Medical Officer, 1 Private Secretary, 1 Store Officer, 4 Administrative Officer, 2 Nurse/Medical Assistant, 1 Transport Supervisor, 13 Personal Officer, 136 Deputy Assistant Director and 346 3rd & 4th Class employees are included among the total 782 number of manpower. So, Now, BTRC requires larger spaces for its smooth functioning.

In October 2008 to set up its head office, BTRC rented 84000 sq ft for car parking at the rate of 32 & 18 respectively from IEB comprising of 122 employees. Later in 2011, the rent was increased by 15%. Subsequently during from the year 2012 to 2015 it was further increased by 8%. It is to be noted that right now, 292 employee of BTRC is working contentedly in the previously rented 84000 sq ft which was rented for 122 employees. As the present office was found inadequate for BTRC’s existing manpower, BTRC recently rented 10000 sq ft spaces at 14th floor of IEB builing. So, the total area of BTRC office from October 2016 is (94000+18000) = 112000 sft. comprising of 94,000 sft of floor spaces and 18000 sft of parking space at the rate of taka 75 and 35 respectively paid to IEB and the amount with VAT &AIT is 92,29,440/-(ninety two lacs twenty nine thousand four hundred forty). Annually the total amount is 11,07,53,280/-(eleven crore seven lacs fifty three thousand two hundred eighty), which is paid from government revenue. 

Presently all the employees as per the approved organogram of BTRC are working in the same premises except 5 employees, who are working at the monitoring stations outside Dhaka. So, rent for the office and parking space is an annual recurring expenditure unless BTRC construct its own building. Considering the huge volume of activities of BTRC, it is expected that BTRC would require strengthening their manpower further more. As a result, more spaces would be required for BTRC to meet the upcoming challenges like awarding 4G License, securing the cyber space, launching Bangabandhu Satellite, increase the broadband penetration etc.

BTRC has five Divisions i.e. Administration Division, Systems and Services Division, Spectrum Division, Engineering and Operation Division, Legal and Licensing Division. BTRC also have three Directorates i.e. Finance, Accounts and Revenue Directorate, Media and Publication Directorate, Enforcement and Inspection Directorate. The office of project of launching Bangladesh’s first satellite namely ‘Bangabandhu Satellite’ is also established in BTRC’s premises. It is impossible to accommodate five Divisions, three Directorates and satellite project in the current available spaces. As a result, BTRC requires more spaces and that can only be meet up through construction a own building of BTRC to give easy movement and healthy environment instead of present congested situation.    

To perform optimally for a maximum output, a new own building of 12 story with 15 story foundation, as BTRC Bhaban with a total floor spaces of 39520.62 sqm (including basements) will be constructed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. This project of constructing own building will help to accommodate all sorts of problems and complexity that are being faced now by the BTRC authority. Subsequently, considering different hindrances, the DPP of construction of BTRC Bhaban is proposed. For the construction of this building naming “BTRC Bhaban” a piece of land has already been allotted to the BTRC authority by the Government of Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

The cost of construction of this building considering all building related services has been prepared by PWD on the written request of BTRC authority propagated through memo no-বিটিআরসি/প্রশাঃঅফিস ভবন/স্থাপত্য নকশা (১০৮২)/২০১৪-২৬৯৮, তারিখঃ ২৭/১১/২০১৪ and the costing are estimated on the basis of PWD latest schedule of rates of 2014.

B. Brief Objective of the project:

After completing the proposed project, the building will facilitate international standard of office environment and requisite infrastructural support to the BTRC authority. It will also help BTRC to solve the present space problem and would help in saving huge amount of annual recurring expenditure as rent of office space.

i. Priority:

At present, due to introduction of different new technologies as well as services in national and international telecom industry, BTRC has to prioritize amongst its different important activities e.g. issuing & renewal of different licenses, collection of non-tax revenue, approval of tariff limit, approval of new technology related service, arbitrations, litigation, dispute resolution, cyber security, cyber-crime control, maintaining relationship with the different regional and international telecommunication organizations, checking and controlling the illegal VOIP activities, spectrum management and monitoring activities, the implementation works of Bangladesh satellite project etc. By providing separate spaces for the aforesaid activities, the priority work can be handled easily and further planning would also be possible for smooth functioning of BTRC’s operation. 

ii. Rationale:

Continual and rapid changes are happening in the field of telecommunication due to new inventions as well as up-gradation of technology. Without having permanent space, it will be difficult for BTRC to face these technological changes. Keeping this in mind and observing the current and upcoming challenges, the proposal of BTRC Bhaban would become the iconic platform for abridging the gap between the international standards and the services provided in Bangladesh to use the latest technology of telecommunication.

BTRC has already requested to increase its present manpower. Present approved manpower of BTRC is 455. Another 327 number of manpower is under the process of approval. It is expected that it will be approved by the authority within a very short time. So, in that case the total approved and proposed manpower will be (455+327) = 782. Beside this, approved manpower for Bangabandhu satellite project is 105. The total BTRC and Bangabandhu satellite’s approved manpower are (455+105) = 560. To ensure expected telecom services for the people as well as rapid expansion and change of technology, BTRC need double manpower (782×2) = 1564 for the next 10 years. By ensuring expected commercial service and need based services from satellite, Bangabandhu satellite project’s would need thrice the existing manpower (105×3) = 315 for the next 10 years. BTRC has designed its DPP by considering all 782 number of manpower. So, more spaces will be required.

BTRC require many equipment with high sensitivity which do not allow frequent movement as reinstallation becomes necessary due to positional changes on shifting. Again, these sorts of equipment also need special conditional environment to operate smoothly such as providing humidifier, auto temperature control system, and special security arrangement. Again the space related activities due to the launching of Bangabandhu Satellite into the orbit also need to be monitored properly and zero error. These actions only possible if there is a permanent building of its own and it could also minimize the establishment costs. According to NBR, BTRC is the highest non tax provider to the government among the other government organizations. So considering permanent nature of the “BTRC Bhaban” this project undoubtedly shall be considered viable and possible.

C. Target of the project:

i. Physical and other components of the project:

Architectural plans have been prepared by the Department of Architecture on the basis of entitlement, strengths and wanting of BTRC. The project considers construction of 12 (twelve) storied building with 15(fifteen) storied foundation (including 3 basement). The basement will be used for parking and ground floor with other floors will be used as office accommodation. Other facilities and utilities like sanitary & water supply, electrification, internal road (RCC) and drain, deep tube well, boundary wall, rain water harvesting, furniture, other logistic supports etc. have been included in this project. Site development has also been included. Besides, arboriculture has been considered in this project for beautification of the office premises.

ii. Other amenities:

To conduct training, assembly, workshop, seminar, forum, meeting, session and presentation, an international standard conference hall, cafeteria, suit, etc. will be added extra weightage of this project. To operate within the wide range of activities, with a separate and well equipped building, BTRC will ensure the spirit of healthy and congenial working environment that also enlighten the working people attitude. To preserve and maintain online CDR, a modern and powerful server station can also be installed easily in the “BTRC Bhaban”. To keep the records a separate and large store room providing modern record room facilities can also be possible.

D. Choice of the project (Outputs/Outcomes):

i. Experience of other similar projects like construction of 20 storied Tathya Bhaban, BTV Bhaban, Film Archive Bhaban by PWD indicates that such projects can be implemented without any difficulty, entirely with locally available resources and technology attaining aims and objectives of the project to the fullest extent.

ii. No imported construction materials will be utilized in the implementation of the project. On the other hand, huge amount of construction materials will be utilize in the project which will be manufactured in the country. This will encourage local producers and support import substitution of an equal amount and effect beneficially on the balance of payment.

iii. Implementation of the project will require large number of manpower/labor both skilled and unskilled. These employments will be created during the period of project implementation. Moreover indigenous production of construction materials will indirectly create and support proportionately huge number of employments along with desirable distribution pattern. So the project will directly create income generating activities in construction sector and indirectly in production industry sector, where mostly the less fortunate section of the society and particularly women in distress can render their services. Moreover, implementation of the project would facilitate maintaining of proper lawful management and improve the situation of working environments which would augment economic activities and will invite foreign capital whereby much more employment opportunity would be created.

iv. Since economic activity in many sectors will be boosted, diverse and homogeneously compatible employment opportunity will be created resulting desirable income distribution effect.  

v. According to the vision 2021 the present government has set the target of providing internet facilities in every house up to the village level by 2017. This target can even been materialized without completion this project. 

vi. Though there will be no direct effect on pollution control, the effect of implementation of the project will augment income generating activity of the people and thereby encourage them to adopt planned families. Still, there is no such fund provision as well as practices of prior feasibility study/survey to prepare DPP. So, it is not conducted by any of BTRC or PWD or DOA. But considering the non-tax revenue earning position of BTRC, it is evidently assume the BTRC is favorable position.

vii. The project will be cost effective since it will be implemented entirely with indigenous construction materials and remarkably it will help tremendous rise of non-tax revenue earning capacity of BTRC. This capacity still now highest among the other. 

E. Specific Linkage:

This project will help to achieve the objectives of 7th 5 year plan. The objective of this project is compatible with objective and target of the MTBF and 7th 5 year plan. The main objective of this project is very aligned with the SDG’s and will help to achieve some sustainable development goals (SDG) like promoting sustained inclusive & sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, ensuring decent work for all, fostering innovation, strengthening global partnership for sustainable development.

F. Risk identification and mitigation:

i. Earthquake is the biggest threat to any structure in Bangladesh, as part of it is situate in a severe earthquake prone zone. As such PWD maintains code specified strength of concrete for different seismic zone. 

ii. Soil Testing for safer Foundation with the following activities are:

a. Preliminary subsoil investigation has to be done for detail subsoil investigation planning.

b. From preliminary soil report further subsoil investigation for determining foundation type depending on the location and soil type is required for safer as well as cost effective foundation, which is followed by PWD.

iii. Floor is also a disaster to some structure. Therefore, Highest Floor Level is considered to construct building and other structures. In case of flash flood areas, special care is taken.

iv. Cyclone and Wind Load is also a major consideration for structural design of buildings, especially wind load for high-rise structures and cyclone for structures in coastal areas, which is also followed by PWD.

v. Construction Materials:

a. BSTI has adopted Euro norms for cement production. But recently in our country Type I OPC is rarely produced by local manufactures. Generally type of cement used for PWD works is Type I as per Schedule of Rates of PWD; as such for certain grade of concrete Mix Design with minimum cement content and other acceptable parameters are practiced.

b. BSTI has adopted Euro norms for cement production, but there is no scope for such type of cement testing in any institution in Bangladesh in Euro norms. Generally cement testing has been done as per ASTM in Bangladesh. The amount of fly ash mixed in the cement has been well described in BSTI standard. But unfortunately there is no mechanism of monitoring these products of different brands of cement in Bangladesh. PWD does only the strength test of cement concrete. In these circumstances Mix Design for specific strength of concrete requires more cementatious (cement + power = cementatious) material to achieve that required strength keeping all other parameters i.e. w/c ratio, slump etc. constant. The use of admixture is required to achieve workability and strength, which is being practiced in PWD