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.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared the ‘Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE)’ project involving a huge amount of Tk 2541.64 crore, aiming to turn Bangladesh into a digital economy. Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division will implement the project in the country by December 2026 with the World Bank’s finance of Tk 2507.05 crore and the government’s finance of Tk 34.59 crore. The approval of 10 projects placed by eight ministries came from the Ecnec meeting held with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Read: Govt to spend Tk 4,167cr on 10 projects, Ecnec gives nod The PM joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, while others were concerned from the NEC conference room in the city. “A total of 10 projects -- five new and five revised ones -- were approved in today's meeting. The total estimated cost of the projects is Tk 7447.07 crore (only additional costs of revised projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting. Of the total cost, Tk 3,682.28 crore will be borne from the government fund, while Tk 153.81 crore will come from the funds of an organisation concerned and Tk 3,610.98 from foreign sources as soft loans, he said. Talking about the EDGE project, Planning Commission’s member Nasima Begum said the remaining works of building Digital Bangladesh will be done under the project. The main project objective is to create a digital economy-friendly environment and provide policy support for development of the digital economy and thus face the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution by designing the strategies and action plans as well as creating skilled manpower and employment scopes. The major operations of the EDGE project include procurement of ICT technology, software, office equipment and vehicles; procurement of consultancy services; training and research on digital economy and block allocation for facing post-Covid situation.

The inflation rate declined to 5.02 percent in January last from 5.29 percent in the previous month (December).

The inflation rate declined by 0.23 percent on a point-to-point basis in December 2020 as it came down at 5.29 percent last month from 5.52 percent in November 2020.

The unusual delay in implementation of Kushtia Medical College Establishment Project has irked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the Finance Ministry and other relevant ministries and divisions to formulate another financial stimulus package keeping in mind the ‘second wave’ of Covid-19.

A Tk 1,882.59-crore project for the improvement of water supply and sanitation in arsenic and iron-hit 98 upazilas of 30 districts was cleared by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday along with four other development projects.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to take measures for not providing house rent allowance to government employees if they don’t stay at the government quarters earmarked for them.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared four development projects, including Tk 693-crore one to install the third submarine cable.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved seven projects involving Tk 10,702 crore, including a Tk 1805-crore one to provide all citizens, aged above 14, with smart national identity cards.