The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 12 projects at a total estimated cost of Tk 168,780 crore and 40 lakh.

The projects were approved at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Wednesday (September 16). Planning State Minister Junaid Saki disclosed the details at a press briefing held at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar after the meeting.

Of the total estimated project cost, Tk 48,256 crore and 30 lakh will come from government funding, Tk 120,466 crore and 39 lakh will be provided as project loans, and Tk 57 crore and 71 lakh will come from the implementing agencies’ own funds.

Of the 12 approved projects, seven are new and five are revised.

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry has the highest number of projects, with five approvals. These include the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route; upgrading district highways under the Rajshahi Road Zone to appropriate standards and widths; upgrading district highways under the Chattogram Road Zone to required standards and widths (Phase 3); the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Northern Route (1st revision); and the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-1) (1st revision).

Two projects under the Ministry of Railways were also approved. They are the introduction of electric traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section and construction of a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj (1st revision).

Under the Ministry of Defence, the ECNEC approved the establishment of Barishal Cantonment (Phase 2) and construction of housing facilities for naval personnel and other infrastructure in the Khulna Naval Area.

The Textile and Leather Sector Workers’ Working Conditions and Social Protection Improvement Project under the Ministry of Labour and Employment was also approved.

In addition, the Khulna Sewerage System Improvement Project (1st revision) and the Upgrading and Expansion of Electricity Distribution System in the Manpura Island Area (1st revision) received final approval.

15 projects costing less than Tk 50 crore
Fifteen projects costing less than Tk 50 crore were also presented at the ECNEC meeting. As their estimated costs were below Tk 50 crore, the Planning Minister approved them under his delegated authority. The ECNEC was subsequently informed about the approved projects.

The projects approved by the Planning Minister include Land Management Automation (2nd revision); construction of the National Headquarters of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (1st revision); establishment of a green belt in Bhasan Char and reforestation in Rohingya-affected areas of Cox’s Bazar (1st revision); strengthening research, conservation and development of indigenous chickens; and establishment of telecommunications networks in economic zones (Phase 1) (1st revision).

Other projects include replacement of vulnerable Bailey and other bridges in the Rangpur Zone (1st revision); construction of the 5th to 10th floors of the RDA building; construction of a Quarter Guard to strengthen the capacity of SI&T at Jalalabad Cantonment; preparation of a 3D model for flood forecasting in Sylhet Division (1st revision); and infrastructure development at Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College and Khulna Military Collegiate School.

The list also includes the Social Safety Net Strengthening (SSPRIT) Project (1st revision), development of district stadiums in Barguna and Dinajpur, and drilling of the Sylhet-10 exploration well (2nd revision).