United News of Bangladesh

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Monday approved 17 development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 15,383.51 crore. Of the total outlay, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from the government’s own resources, Tk 5,609.70 crore as project loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission with Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Prof  Muhammad Yunus in the chair. The two projects under the Ministry of Agriculture are the “Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Chattogram Region” project and the second revised “Quality Seed Potato Production, Preservation and Strengthened Distribution to Farmers” project. The Power and Energy Ministry got approval for two projects-  the drilling of three exploration wells (Srikail Deep-1, Mobarakpur Deep-1 and Fenchuganj South-1), and the construction of the 220-MW Sonagazi Solar Power Plant. Three projects under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works include the construction of 1,560 residential flats in Mirpur-9 for families of  July activists who lost work capacity, the construction of the ‘36 July’ residential flats for families of  July martyrs, and the modernisation of electrical, mechanical and fire-safety equipment at Bangladesh Secretariat, Transport Pool, Ministers’ Apartments and secretary residences. The Ministry of Bridges received approval for the third revised “Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-6)” and the development of the Sirajganj–Raiganj (Chandaikona) district highway to appropriate standards and width. The meeting also approved the “Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project (NGRUDP)” under the Local Government Division, and a revised project under the Social Welfare Ministry titled “Autism and NDD Services Centre (2nd Revised).” The Finance Ministry secured approval for the “Japan Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) Project (2nd Phase),” while the ICT Division received clearance for the first revised “Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development” project. Under the Education Ministry, the “Completion of Construction of the Third Academic and Central Research Building (10-storey foundation, 10 floors) and Other Structures at Noakhali Science and Technology University” was approved. Three more projects under the Health and Family Welfare Ministry were endorsed: “Climate Responsive Reproductive Health and Population Services Improvement and System Strengthening for Results,” the first revised “Establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Centre, Munshiganj,” and the project covering essential operational activities of the Directorate General of Health Services, Directorate General of Drug Administration and the Community Clinic Health Support Trust. During the meeting, ECNEC members were also briefed on 15 small-scale projects  each costing less than Tk 50 crore which had earlier been approved by the Planning Adviser. These projects include the modernisation of Bangladesh Betar Chattogram Centre, infrastructure development in several district stadiums, the third revised IMPACT–Phase 3 project for poverty alleviation, upgrades to academic institutions, cultural centres, fisheries development initiatives, rural infrastructure improvement in Gazipur, biodiversity enhancement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, drainage system improvement in Chapainawabganj, and the second revised infrastructure development scheme for Dinajpur Municipality.