Bangladesh, July 22 -- The cost of the China-funded Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway has jumped 54 percent in one go, even though construction is already 80 percent complete.

The revised project proposal won approval at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday.

Asked after the meeting why the project cost had increased so sharply, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki attributed the rise to two main factors.

He said one major reason was the sharp increase in the exchange rate of the US dollar, which had also affected VAT and tax calculations.

Saki said the second reason was the inclusion of new project components.

According to him, the revised proposal includes five new component...