ECNEC approves 13 projects worth Tk 15,823 crore

Collected Photo

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 13 projects involving a total estimated cost of Tk 15,823.57 crore.

Of the total cost, Tk 10,118.33 crore will come from government funds, Tk 5,252.96 crore from project loans and Tk 382.28 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds.

The projects were approved at an ECNEC meeting held at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

State Minister for Planning Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki disclosed the decisions at a briefing after the meeting.

Of the approved projects, eight are new, three are revised and two involve extensions of the implementation period.

The approved projects include two under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — ‘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 Finance Ministry’s ‘Financial Sector Support Project-2 (FSSP-2)’ was also approved.

Under the Ministry of Social Welfare, the approved project aims to develop and expand existing physical disability training centres in Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions and expand the hostel building and capacity of the institution for children with intellectual disabilities at Roufabad in Chattogram.

Two projects under the Ministry of Water Resources were approved: integrated flood and river management and drainage improvement in the Small Feni and Bamni river basins, including construction of the Musapur regulator; and protection of areas in Shibpur, Dhania and Medua under Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from erosion by the Meghna River.

The Land Ministry’s 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 also approved.

Two projects under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives involve widening and strengthening important upazila and union roads in Rangpur division and developing rural infrastructure in Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari districts.

The third revised project for expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the first phase was also approved.

The Home Ministry’s second revised project for enhancing the technical and technological capacity of RAB (SRB) was among the approved schemes.

Two projects under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources involve land acquisition for establishing a solar power plant in Sonagazi, Feni, and expanding the electricity network in three hill districts.

The meeting was also informed about 15 projects costing less than Tk 50 crore that had already been approved by the Planning Minister.