Dhaka:The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 13 projects with a combined budget of Tk 16,207.55 crore. Among these, a key project involves the construction of a 442-MW peak solar power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this decision was made during the 5th ECNEC meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman. The funding for these projects will come from a combination of government funds (Tk 10,600.80 crore), project loans (Tk 4,081.85 crore), and funds from the concerned agencies (Tk 1,524.91 crore).
The Rampal solar power project, proposed by the Power Division and to be implemented by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), aims to enhance renewable energy generation and diversify the country's energy sources. The project will be financed by BPDB’s own funds and the Power Sector Development Fund, which offers a loan at 2 percent interest with a 16-year repayment period.
The Planning Commission has recommended the project be completed between September 2026 and March 2029. The solar plant, to be built on 918.50 acres in Block-B of Rampal, will help increase the renewable energy share in the national grid to meet the target of 20 percent by 2030. The existing transmission infrastructure will be used, allowing for quicker implementation and reduced costs.
In addition to the solar project, the ECNEC approved various infrastructure development projects under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. These include road and drainage improvements in Dhaka South City Corporation, infrastructure upgrades in Rangpur and Gazipur, and rural development in Sirajganj, Bogura, and Naogaon.
Other projects include the procurement of vessels for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, railway capacity expansion, and renovation of a chancery building in Paris under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges received approval for the construction of the Second Karatoya Bridge and road projects in Thanchi-Rimakri-Madak-Likri.
The meeting also noted a smaller project involving river and canal re-excavation in Joypurhat, which had already been approved by the Planning Minister.