ECNEC approves 13 projects worth Tk 16,000 crore

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 13 development projects at a total cost of Tk 15,823.57 crore. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held yesterday in the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat. Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Mr. Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting.

The government will pay Tk 10,118.33 crore of the total cost from its own funds. Project loans will cover Tk 5,252.96 crore, and the concerned agencies will pay Tk 382.28 crore from their own funds. Of the 13 approved projects, eight are new, three are revised and two are time extension projects.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Home Minister Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed, and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Mr. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud attended the meeting. Women and Social Welfare Minister Mr. Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain and Land Minister Mr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu also joined. Industries, Textiles and Commerce Minister Mr. Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Water Resources Minister Mr. Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie were present as well.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Mr. M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, and Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Minister Mr. Sheikh Rabiul Alam took part. Planning State Minister Mr. Md. Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki and Bangladesh Bank Governor Mr. Md. Mostaqur Rahman also attended. Senior government officials concerned with the projects joined them too.

The Health Services and Family Welfare Ministry received two projects. They are “Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria In Bangladesh” and “Establishment of Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital, Patuakhali (1st Revised)”. The Finance Ministry received one project, “Financial Sector Support Project 2 (FSSP 2)”. The Social Welfare Ministry received one project, which will develop and expand the physical disability training centres in Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions. It will also expand the hostel building and improve capacity at the institution for children with intellectual disabilities in Roufabad, Chattogram.

The Water Ministry received two projects. One will build the Musapur Regulator and improve integrated flood and river management and drainage in the Chhoto Feni and Bamni river basins (Part 1). The other will protect the Shibpur, Dhania and Medua areas of Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from Meghna river erosion. The Land Ministry received one project (2nd Revised) to set up a digital land management system through digital land survey in three city corporations, one municipality and two rural upazilas.

The Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry received two projects. One will widen and strengthen important upazila and union roads in Rangpur division. The other (3rd Revised) will develop rural infrastructure in Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari districts. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry received one project, the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project (Phase 1) (3rd Revised).

The Home Ministry received one project (2nd Revised) to increase the technical capacity of RAB (SRB). The Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry received two projects. One will acquire land to build a solar power plant in Sonagazi, Feni district. The other will expand the power network in the three hill districts.

ECNEC was also informed about 15 projects that cost less than Tk 50 crore each, which the Planning Minister approved using his own authority. The first group includes the upward expansion of the existing three storey building of Bangladesh International School and College, Nirjhor, Dhaka Cantonment, with a fourth, fifth and sixth floor (foundation for six floors). It also includes the construction of infrastructure to improve education quality and teaching capacity at BAF Shaheen College at Air Force Base Kurmitola, Dhaka. Another project will develop infrastructure at Alikadam Cantonment Public School and College in Alikadam Cantonment (Phase 2).

The list also includes a project to set up and beautify government primary schools in Dhaka city and Purbachal (2nd Revised). Other projects are the setup of BSTI regional offices in 10 districts (1st Revised) and the Rupsha 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project (1st Revised). The list further includes the Mirpur USEP Labour and Employment Institute setup and human resource development project (1st Revised), and the Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management (CSAWM) project, BWDB part (1st Revised).

The remaining projects will control floods and protect the left and right banks of the Dharla river in Kurigram Sadar, Rajarhat and Phulbari upazilas of Kurigram district (2nd Revised). Others will protect both banks of the Kushiyara river in front of the Bibiyana power plants in Habiganj district (2nd Revised), and improve roads, drainage and civic services in Mymensingh City Corporation (1st Revised). Three more will supply safe water across the country (2nd Revised), improve water supply and sanitation in 23 municipalities in Bangladesh (GoB IDB) (2nd Revised), and upgrade the Bhuapur Tarakandi district highway (Z 4801) to proper standard and width (2nd Revised). The last project will treat surface water and supply it through pipelines, with safe sanitation, in Chapainawabganj municipality.