Complications arose in 2001 as a 150 feet high glass tower was later included in the design, raising the original cost from Tk. 81 to Tk 171 crores.

"On Ecnec's fresh approval of the original estimate, the proposal will be placed before the Cabinet Purchase Committee for its observation," said Prof. Rezaul Karim, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs. "The work will restart then."

The revised proposal includes an alternative tower instead of a glass one and could be erected without any addition to the Tk. 81 crore budget.

The minister also said that although plans were underway to restart the construction in February, it was delayed because of irregularities in the project.

He added that any project over Tk 25 crores should have the approval of the government purchase committee. "But this project lacked the committee's approval."

A case has been filed with the Bureau of Anti-corruption accusing nine persons including the former Project Director AKM Shahiduzzaman for giving a work order over 8.99 per cent, the minister said.

The project sprawling over an area of 67 acres will honour all the martyrs and war heroes from 1948 to1971. It will house an underground theatre and underground museum containing evidence of the liberation war and a 157-seat audio-visual auditorium; free for public view. The complex will also contain a display gallery, a boundary wall and a decorative fountain.

A city dweller commented that the government should complete this work and open it for public viewing as quickly as possible. The unprotected areas of the Udyan are becoming unsafe.

To facilitate construction the government handed over the project to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs from the Ministry of Public Works.