The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 10 projects involving an estimated cost of Tk3,890.97 crore.
Out of the total cost, the government will provide Tk3,810.62 crore from its own funds, while Tk80.35 crore will be sourced from the implementing organisations’ own funds.
The approval was granted during an ECNEC meeting held at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman presiding over the session.
Of the approved projects, five are new, three are revised, and two involve period extensions.
Details of approved projects
The approved projects cover a wide range of sectors including water resources, land, and infrastructure.
The Ministry of Water Resources will implement the maintenance and rehabilitation of the Barisal Irrigation Project (Phase 1), while the Ministry of Land is set to construct an Integrated Upazila Land Complex.
For the local government sector, the committee approved the construction of a city building for the Mymensingh City Corporation.
In the transport sector, the Anwara-Banshkhali-Toitong-Pekua-Badarkhali-Chakaria (Eidmoni) regional highway will be upgraded to proper standards and width from Kalabibir Dighi to Eidmoni.
The Ministry of Public Administration will oversee the addition of lifts to circuit houses in 33 districts and the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Thakurgaon.
In the health and defence sectors, the committee approved the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Expansion Project-2 and the first revision for the construction of a cancer centre at Dhaka CMH (Phase 2).
Education-related approvals included the third revisions for the Madrasa Education Management and Information System (MEMIS) Support and the establishment of multimedia classrooms in 653 madrasas.
Additionally, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources received approval for the first revision of a project to enhance the capacity of existing grid substations and transmission lines.
Informed projects and attendees
The ECNEC was also informed of six projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore, which had already been approved by Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
These projects include the second revision of water supply and sanitation in 30 municipalities, waste management and traffic congestion mitigation in Dhaka South City Corporation, the expansion of postal services, infrastructure for the Dhaka Cantonment MES Training Cell, accelerating action to end child marriage (Phase-II), and the second revision for Paikgachha Agriculture College in Khulna.
The meeting was attended by a host of cabinet members, including Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku; Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid; and Industries, Textiles and Jute, and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.
Other attendees included Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam; Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher; Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu; Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan; and Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee.
State Minister for Public Administration and Food Md Abdul Bari and State Minister for Planning Md Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki were also present along with senior government officials.
