Bangladesh, Nov. 5 -- Persistent failure to complete development projects within their stipulated deadlines has come under fresh scrutiny after the government approved on Wednesday a third revision of a major rural infrastructure project, officials said.

The latest revision will increase the financial burden on the public exchequer by more than Tk 40 billion or 62 per cent to nearly Tk 104.78 billion from the original Tk 64.77 billion, according to the project document.

The revised cost is also Tk 39.514 billion higher than the Tk 65.27 billion approved under the second revision.

The project's original two-year completion deadline has now been extended to nine years, underscoring longstanding concerns over project planning, implementa...