Run a command with as stopwatch, print the seconds as they pass. So you can track the progress of a command that lacks it's own progress bar.

stopwatch.sh

#!/bin/bash
set -ue

BEGIN=$(date +%s)
BACK="\b\b\b\b"

($* ; touch /tmp/$$.done) &

OLDDIFF=0
while true; do
        NOW=$(date +%s)
        DIFF=$(($NOW - $BEGIN))
        MINS=$(($DIFF / 60))
        SECS=$(($DIFF % 60))

	#only echo count if its different than the last time
	if [ "$DIFF" != "$OLDDIFF" ]
	then
	        #backspace 4 times to reset stopwatch position
	        #The '-e' enables \b to be interpreted correctly
	        #The '-n' avoids the newline character at the end
	        echo -ne $BACK
	        echo -ne $MINS:`printf %02d $SECS`
	fi
	
	OLDDIFF=DIFF
	sleep 1s
	
	if [ -e /tmp/$$.done ]; then
	  echo
		exit
	fi

done