Written by The Banking Post
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 10 development projects involving a total investment of Tk 38.91 billion, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presiding over the meeting at the Secretariat.
Of the approved projects, eight received final clearance, while two were given conditional approval subject to further revisions and review.
However, ECNEC sent back two proposals, including the long-delayed Khulna Shipyard Road project, citing implementation concerns. The much-discussed Chinese Economic Zone project was also not taken up during the meeting.
Among the approved schemes, five are new projects, three are revised projects and two involve extensions of implementation periods.
The government will finance Tk 38.11 billion of the total project cost, while implementing agencies will contribute Tk 803.5 million from their own funds.
One of the largest approvals went to the development of the Anwara-Banshkhali-Taitong-Pekua-Badarkhali-Chakaria (Eidmoni) regional highway, which will cost Tk 11.84 billion. Another major project is the enhancement of existing grid substations and transmission lines, approved at Tk 10.44 billion.
ECNEC also approved the first phase of the Barishal Irrigation Project rehabilitation programme at Tk 2.83 billion, the expansion of Bangladesh Children’s Hospital and Institute at Tk 3.44 billion, and the second phase of the Cancer Center project at Dhaka CMH with a revised cost of Tk 4.12 billion.
Other approved initiatives include the installation of lifts in circuit houses and deputy commissioners’ offices in 33 districts, the revised Madrasa Education Management and Information System (MEMIS) project, and the establishment of multimedia classrooms in 653 madrasas across the country.
Two projects received conditional endorsement: the Integrated Upazila Land Complex Project, estimated at Tk 14.09 billion, and the Urban Buildings Construction Project of Mymensingh City Corporation, estimated at Tk 2.15 billion. Officials said these proposals may be brought back to a future ECNEC meeting for final approval after meeting required conditions.
The meeting was also informed about six smaller projects, each costing less than Tk 500 million, which had already been approved by the Planning Minister. These include initiatives related to water supply and sanitation in municipalities, waste management and traffic congestion reduction in Dhaka South City Corporation, postal service expansion, infrastructure development for the MES Training Cell, child marriage prevention and the establishment of Paikgachha Agricultural College in Khulna.
Several cabinet members, Planning Commission officials and senior government representatives attended the meeting.
