The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 13 development projects involving a total expenditure of Tk 15,823 crore and Tk 57 lakh.
The projects were approved at an ECNEC meeting held on Tuesday (September 29) at the Cabinet Division meeting room of Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Of the total project cost, Tk 10,118 crore and Tk 33 lakh will come from the government’s own funds, Tk 5,252 crore and Tk 96 lakh from foreign loans and grants, and Tk 382 crore and Tk 28 lakh from the implementing agencies’ own funds. Of the 13 approved projects, eight are new projects, three are revised projects and two involve extension of project duration.
The meeting was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Women and Social Welfare Minister Abu Jafar Md Zahid Hossain, Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu, Industries, Textiles and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Planning State Minister Md Jonaed Abdur Rahim Saki, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman and senior officials concerned.
Two projects under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were approved: ‘Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Bangladesh’ and the first revised project for establishing Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital.
The Ministry of Finance’s ‘Financial Sector Support Project-2 (FSSP-2)’ was also approved.
Under the Ministry of Social Welfare, the approved project involves development and expansion of existing physical disability training centres in the Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions, along with expansion of hostel facilities and capacity at the institution for children with intellectual disabilities in Roufabad, Chattogram.
Two projects under the Ministry of Water Resources were approved. They include integrated flood and river management and drainage improvement in the Little Feni and Bamni river basins, including construction of the Musapur Regulator, and protection of Shibpur, Dhania and Medua areas of Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from erosion by the Meghna River.
The second revised project for establishing a digital land management system through digital land surveys in three city corporations, one municipality and two rural upazilas was approved under the Ministry of Land.
Two projects under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives were also approved, including widening and strengthening important upazila and union roads in Rangpur Division and the third revised rural infrastructure development project for Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari districts.
The first-phase third revised project for expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was approved under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
The second revised project for enhancing the technical and technological capabilities of RAB (SRB) was approved under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Two projects under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources were also approved, involving land acquisition for construction of a solar power plant in Sonagazi, Feni, and expansion of electricity networks in the three hill districts.
The ECNEC meeting was also informed about 15 projects costing less than Tk 50 crore that had already been approved under the Planning Minister’s delegated authority.
These include infrastructure expansion at Bangladesh International School and College, Nirjhar Dhaka Cantonment; infrastructure development at BAF Shaheen College in Kurmitola; infrastructure development of Alikadam Cantonment Public School and College; establishment and infrastructure development of government primary schools in Dhaka metropolitan area and Purbachal; and establishment of BSTI regional offices in 10 districts.
The list also includes the Rupsa 800MW combined-cycle power plant project, Mirpur UCEP Institute for Labour and Employment, Climate-Smart Agriculture and Water Management, flood control and riverbank protection along the Dharla River in Kurigram, and protection of both banks of the Kushiyara River in Habiganj.
Other projects include road and drainage network development in Mymensingh City Corporation, safe water supply across the country, water supply and sanitation in 23 municipalities, upgrading the Bhuapur-Tarakanda district highway, and surface-water treatment and safe sanitation in Chapainawabganj Municipality.
