Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved 10 projects involving a total cost of Tk 9,333.58 crore. These projects include six new initiatives and four revised ones, marking a significant investment in the nation’s infrastructure and development.
According to United News of Bangladesh, of the total project cost, Tk 8,488.71 crore will be sourced from the government’s own funds, while Tk 936.36 crore will be financed through project loans. The approval was granted during an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room at the Planning Commission, presided over by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman.
Among the approved projects, two fall under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, focusing on the replacement and reconstruction of unusable structures at Dhaka Medical College and the construction of 19 modern hostel buildings for students of 10 medical colleges. The Roads and Highways Department also received approval for a project titled ‘Capacity Development for Smart Maintenance Technology of Bridges under Roads and Highways Department in Bangladesh’.
Furthermore, two projects under the Ministry of Water Resources aim to protect Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila from erosion along the right bank of the Dharla River and to strengthen the coastal embankment at Bashbaria ferry ghat in Sitakunda, Chattogram, extending to the stretch from the ferry ghat to Kumira ghat. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives received approval for a project aimed at the rehabilitation and strengthening of rural roads.
The ECNEC also sanctioned a project under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to enhance the capacity of the Department of Livestock Services. In the power sector, two projects were approved: the construction of a 100 MW solar power plant at Madarganj in Jamalpur and the expansion and strengthening of electrical infrastructure in the DESCO area of Dhaka.
Additionally, an infrastructure development project for Ramu Cantonment under the Ministry of Defence received approval. During the meeting, information was shared regarding nine projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore, which have already been approved by the Planning Minister. These projects include a feasibility study for establishing a BSL-3 laboratory and enhancing vaccine and biologics research capacity, the Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST) project, and the Sundarbans Protection Project, among others.