United News of Bangladesh

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Sunday approved 25 development projects worth Tk 45,191.27 crore including a 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship General Hospital in the northern region. Of the total project cost, Tk 10,881.40 crore will be financed from government funds, Tk 32,018.09 crore from project loans and Tk 2,291.78 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The approvals were given at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission complex, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. Two projects -the establishment of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship General Hospital to provide advanced medical services to the people of the northern region and neighbouring countries involving Tk 2,459 crore and Health and Nutrition Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project involving Tk 8700 crore under the Health Services Division were approved in the meeting. ECNEC clears 22 development projects Among the approved projects, 14 are new, six are revised and five involve extension of project duration. Under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, two projects were approved for widening and upgrading the Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari regional highway (R-162) and upgrading three regional highways and one district road under the Munshiganj Roads Division. One revised project under the Housing and Public Works Ministry was approved for the construction of an elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry received approval for two projects relating to strengthening the existing runway and taxiway at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and introducing tourism facilities at Parki in Chattogram. Two projects under the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry were approved for promoting women entrepreneurship in sanitation and developing important rural infrastructure in Cumilla district. The Home Ministry secured approval for two projects including the construction of police outposts, investigation centres, camps, naval police centres, railway police stations and outposts, tourist police centres and highway police stations and outposts across the country as well as construction of district offices of the Department of Narcotics Control under its first phase. One revised project under Bangladesh Railway was approved for constructing a single-line dual-gauge railway track from Dohazari via Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and from Ramu to Gundum near the Myanmar border. The Youth and Sports Ministry received approval for the revised project aimed at generating employment through freelancing training for educated job-seeking youths in all 64 districts. Two revised projects under the Textiles and Jute Ministry were approved for the establishment of Sylhet Textile Engineering College and Sylhet Textile Institute. The Primary and Mass Education Ministry received approval for the project titled alternative education opportunities for out-of-school children. The Agriculture Ministry had two projects approved, including the Ashuganj–Palash Green Project and the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (third revision). Six projects under the Water Resources Ministry were approved, covering sustainable river management in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts, dredging and construction of a rubber dam on the Mahananda River in Chapainawabganj, protection of both banks of the Padma River in Chapainawabganj, erosion control along the Tetulia River in Mehendiganj upazila of Barishal, protection of the right bank of the Padma River at Majhirghat Zero Point in Zajira upazila of Shariatpur district, and integrated water and land resources management to improve livelihoods in the Arial Beel area. One revised project under the Science and Technology Ministry for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction was also approved. The ECNEC meeting was also informed about 10 projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore, which had already been approved by the Planning Adviser. These include development projects of selected government colleges, Bangladesh University of Professionals, strengthening of the Education Engineering Department through establishment of headquarters and district offices, completion of partially implemented science and education infrastructure projects, expansion of ambulance services of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, construction of RAB headquarters, widening and development of a national highway section in Narail town, and revision of the Saidpur 150 MW power plant project. In addition, the project previously titled establishment of the permanent campus of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh has been renamed as establishment of the permanent campus of Bangladesh Maritime University.  

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.

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Sunday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) amounting to Tk 230,000 crore for the fiscal year 2025–2026. The NEC also approved a separate development outlay of approximately Tk 8,599.71 crore for autonomous bodies and corporations, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters after the NEC meeting. The approval came at the NEC meeting at its conference room in the capital chaired by Chief Adviser and NEC Chairperson Prof Muhammad Yunus. Like previous years, the ADP for FY 2025–26 has been formulated by taking into consideration the country’s available resources, foreign financing, and the overall macroeconomic situation. Priority in the allocation has been given to ongoing projects funded by foreign loans and grants, poverty alleviation initiatives, employment generation, acceleration of GDP growth, agriculture and agro-based industries, education, health, ICT, science and technology, power generation, disaster management and rehabilitation, and human resource development. Ecnec approves Tk 244.14 cr project to enhance disaster resilience Projects under various ministries and divisions that are directly linked to these areas have been given precedence. The meeting was attended by members of the Advisory Council, the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, members of the Planning Commission, senior secretaries and secretaries of different ministries, and other high-level officials.  

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Tuesday approved Tk 197,643-crore revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the current fiscal year, downsizing the original ADP size of Tk 2,05,145 crore.

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Tuesday approved the country’s 2nd Perspective Plan 2021-2041, aiming to make Bangladesh a higher-income and developed country by 2041.