Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has given the green light to 25 development projects totaling Tk 45,191.27 crore. Among these, a significant project is the establishment of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital in the northern region.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the funding for these projects will be sourced from government funds amounting to Tk 10,881.40 crore, project loans of Tk 32,018.09 crore, and Tk 2,291.78 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The approvals were finalized during an ECNEC meeting chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission complex.
Among the key projects, two major initiatives under the Health Services Division were approved. These include the establishment of a 1,000-bed hospital, costing Tk 2,459 crore, and the Health and Nutrition Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project worth Tk 8,700 crore. The meeting approved 14 new projects, six revised ones, and five extensions of project duration.
The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry saw the approval of two significant projects aimed at enhancing regional connectivity. These involve the widening and upgrading of the Rangamati (Manikchhari)-Mahalchhari-Khagrachhari regional highway and the upgrade of three regional highways and one district road under the Munshiganj Roads Division.
A revised project under the Housing and Public Works Ministry was also sanctioned, focusing on the construction of an elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry received approval for projects to strengthen existing infrastructure at Shah Amanat International Airport and to develop tourism facilities at Parki in Chattogram.
The Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry will undertake two projects to bolster women entrepreneurship in sanitation and enhance rural infrastructure in the Cumilla district. Similarly, the Home Ministry secured approval for projects aimed at constructing various police and security facilities across the country, along with creating district offices for the Department of Narcotics Control.
Bangladesh Railway received approval for a revised project to construct a single-line dual-gauge railway track from Dohazari through Ramu to Cox’s Bazar, extending to the Myanmar border. The Youth and Sports Ministry’s project to train job-seeking youths in freelancing across all 64 districts was also given the nod.
Other notable approvals include projects under the Textiles and Jute Ministry for establishing Sylhet Textile Engineering College and Sylhet Textile Institute, and a project by the Primary and Mass Education Ministry to provide alternative education opportunities for out-of-school children.
The Agriculture Ministry’s projects include the Ashuganj-Palash Green Project and the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project. Furthermore, six projects under the Water Resources Ministry will address river management, erosion control, and water resource management in various districts.
A revised project under the Science and Technology Ministry for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant also received approval. Additionally, the ECNEC meeting was briefed on 10 other projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore, that had already been approved by the Planning Adviser.
These smaller projects include development initiatives for government colleges, the Bangladesh University of Professionals, and infrastructure enhancements for the Education Engineering Department, among others. A project involving the establishment of the permanent campus of Bangladesh Maritime University was also renamed during the meeting.