The government is set to place a major Tk2,910 crore electrification project before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday, aiming to expand power coverage across the Chittagong Hill Tracts at an average expenditure exceeding Tk3.28 lakh per connection.
The initiative, titled “Expansion of Electricity Network in Three Hill Districts,” aims to bring grid access to 88,586 new consumers across Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban between July 2026 and June 2031.
Current estimates indicate that around 55 per cent of the three hill districts currently enjoys electricity access; the proposed scheme seeks to electrify a further 35 per cent of the region, leaving roughly 10 per cent without grid connectivity due to challenging terrain. The planned network will serve 25,966 consumers in Rangamati, 17,700 in Bandarban, and 44,920 in Khagrachhari across 26 upazilas.
Financially, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will supply the lion’s share of the project through a Tk2,098.40 crore loan, complemented by Tk444.31 crore from central government coffers and Tk367.52 crore from the Bangladesh Power Development Board’s internal resources.
Following a Project Evaluation Committee review on 1 July, overall costs were trimmed by Tk41.65 crore, leading Planning Commission Member (Secretary) Nurunnahar Chowdhury to formally recommend its approval.
Tk5,000cr road project for Rangpur
The Ecnec meeting will also consider a massive Tk4,984.76 crore transport infrastructure project to overhaul rural connectivity across eight districts in the Rangpur division. Implemented entirely through state funding by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) between July 2026 and June 2030, the project will widen and reinforce 1,152 kilometres of upazila roads and 462 kilometres of union roads across 57 upazilas.
To accommodate expanding freight movements, the scheme includes 54 kilometres of reinforced concrete roads, 2,502 metres of bridge reconstruction, 1,911 metres of culverts, 85 drainage structures, 176 level crossings, and 66 bus bays. To prevent erosion, it also features 66,410 metres of slope protection and the planting of over 425,000 trees across Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Gaibandha.
Tk397cr health project
Healthcare strengthening forms another cornerstone of the upcoming sit-down, highlighted by a Tk396.89 crore project designed to improve primary and secondary services, focusing on maternal, newborn, and child health alongside non-communicable disease control. Supported by a Tk321.01 crore loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) alongside Tk75.78 crore in state funds, the project will be executed by the Directorate General of Health Services and the Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust.
The funds will procure medical equipment for 14,600 centres, IT infrastructure for 14,500 community clinics, and furniture for 200 facilities across all 64 districts, while providing training for thousands of healthcare staff.
Other projects
Rounding out the 15-proposal agenda are two additional health schemes – focused on controlling tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, alongside a fourth extension for Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital.
Other proposals include asphalt concrete overlays for runways at Jashore, Saidpur, and Rajshahi airports, capacity enhancements for the Special Response Battalion (SRB), digital land management rollouts, river bank stabilisation in Bhola and Munshiganj, financial sector support, disability training centres, and land acquisition for a power plant in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar.
