Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has sanctioned a total of 10 projects with an estimated cost of Tk 9,333.58 crore. Among these, a significant Tk 4,963.67 crore project has been approved for the rehabilitation and strengthening of rural roads nationwide.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the funding for these projects will predominantly come from the government, contributing Tk 8,488.71 crore, while Tk 936.38 crore will be obtained through project loans. The approval was granted during ECNEC’s second meeting of the fiscal year, held at the NEC Conference Room at the Planning Commission under the leadership of Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman.
State Minister for Planning Md. Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki briefed reporters following the meeting, emphasizing the importance of the Tk 4,963.67 crore rural road project, which will be executed by the Local Government Engineering Department. This initiative aims to rehabilitate 5,223 kilometres of rural roads and 7,000 metres of bridges and culverts across all 64 districts in Bangladesh’s eight divisions.
Saki highlighted the Prime Minister’s directive to incorporate modern technologies to enhance road durability, with a proposal to test rubber-bitumen technology on 100 kilometres of roads in the first year. The project’s focus is on roads where people face significant communication challenges, and maintenance will be a key aspect.
The ECNEC also approved two projects under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These include the reconstruction of structures at Dhaka Medical College for Tk 1,154.83 crore and the construction of 19 hostel buildings for students of 10 medical colleges, with an additional cost of Tk 201.70 crore.
In the transportation sector, the Roads and Highways Department received approval for a Tk 115.73 crore project titled “Capacity Development for Smart Maintenance Technology of Bridges.” This project, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), will introduce advanced technology for bridge monitoring.
Two projects under the Ministry of Water Resources were approved, focusing on erosion protection and coastal embankment strengthening. Additionally, a project to enhance the capacity of the Department of Livestock Services and two power sector projects were given the green light.
Another significant project involves the infrastructure development at Ramu Cantonment, estimated at Tk 1,311.53 crore, aiming to improve accommodation for over 8,000 soldiers.
Saki addressed concerns regarding project duplication, stating that the Planning Commission is undertaking reforms to move towards a programme-based cluster system. This approach will help identify overlaps and ensure efficient resource allocation.
He also outlined the government’s strategic framework to propel Bangladesh from “fragility to prosperity” by focusing on economic recovery, transition, and reconstruction over a five-year period.
Ministers, state ministers, Planning Commission members, and relevant secretaries attended the meeting. The government is also working on modernizing the national statistical system for accurate impact assessment of its initiatives.