ECNEC approves 10 projects with Tk 9,333 crore

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 10 development projects in its meeting. The total cost of these projects is estimated at Tk 9,333.58 crore.

The projects were approved in the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room located in the Planning Commission premises in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Wednesday.

The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Out of these 10 approved projects, six are new and four are revised projects. Of the total cost of the projects, Tk 8,488.71 crore will be provided from the government’s own funds and the remaining amount will be met as project loans.

The meeting approved the projects “Replacement and reconstruction of unusable facilities of Dhaka Medical College” and “Construction of 19 hostel buildings with modern facilities for students of 10 medical colleges (1st revision)” under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of various ministries.

A project to enhance the capacity of smart maintenance technology of bridges under the Road and Highways Department has been approved for the road transport sector.

Under the Ministry of Water Resources, the project to protect Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila from erosion of the Dharla River and the project to strengthen Banshbaria Ferry Ghat in Sitakunda, Chittagong have been approved.

In addition, the project to rehabilitate and strengthen rural roads of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and the project to strengthen the capacity of the Livestock Department of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (3rd Amendment) have been approved by the ECNEC.

Under the Power and Energy sector, the project to construct a 100 MW solar power plant in Madarganj, Jamalpur (2nd Amendment) and the project to expand and strengthen electrical infrastructure in the DESCO area in Dhaka (1st Amendment) have been approved.

In addition, the project to develop the infrastructure of Ramu Cantonment under the Ministry of Defence has also received final approval.

The meeting was formally informed to ECNEC about the nine projects already approved by the Planning Minister with a cost of less than Tk 50 crore. At one stage of the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman unveiled the cover of the publication titled “Five Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development” published by the General Economics Department.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, Agriculture Minister Md. Amin Ur Rashid, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain and State Minister for Planning Md. Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki and other senior government officials were present at the meeting.