Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is preparing to convene its third meeting of the 2026-27 fiscal year on Wednesday, focusing on an agenda comprising 15 projects. These projects span crucial sectors such as transport, defence, health, water resources, and land management, according to a notice issued by the Planning Division.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the meeting will take place at 10:00 am in the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman. Among the key items on the agenda is the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route, scheduled to run from September 2026 to August 2033 under the Road Transport and Highways Division. Additionally, the upgradation of district highways under the Rajshahi and Chattogram Road Zones is set for discussion.
In the defence sector, ECNEC will consider infrastructure proposals such as the second phase of the Barisal Cantonment establishment, running from July 2026 to December 2030, and the construction of facilities for naval personnel in the Khulna Naval Zone, set for July 2026 to June 2029.
The Khulna Drainage System Development Project (first revised), which has been ongoing since July 2020 under the Local Government Division, is also on the agenda. Two railway projects from the Ministry of Railways are up for review: the Implementation of Electric Traction Along the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur Section and a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj.
Under the Industries and Energy Division, the committee will examine the Improved Working Condition and Social Protection for Workers in the Textile and Leather Sector project from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, along with the first-revised upgradation and expansion of the electricity distribution system in the Manpura island area.
The Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division has three projects from the Health Services Division and Financial Institutions Division: Health System Strengthening through MNCH Services Improvement, Integrated Health System Response Against TB, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria, and Financial Sector Support Project-II (FSSP-II).
In the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division, projects include the construction of the Musapur Regulator for integrated flood and river management, and the second-revised Digital Land Management System project from the Ministry of Land.
The notice also lists 15 additional projects approved by the relevant ministers, to be presented for informational purposes. These include the Automation of Land Management project, construction of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society's national headquarters, and the Establishing Green Belt at Bhasan Char from the Ministry of Environment.
Other infrastructure-related items include the establishment of a telecommunication network in economic zones, replacement of ageing bridges in the Rangpur zone, and the development of a Digital Elevation Model of Sylhet division to enhance flood forecasting.
Education and social welfare projects include infrastructure development at Cantonment Public School and College, Saidpur, and the first-revised Strengthening Social Protection for Improved Resilience, Inclusion and Targeting (SSPIRIT) project. Moreover, the drilling of the Sylhet-10 exploration well is also on the list, under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.