The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved 10 development projects with an estimated cost of Tk 3,891 crore during a meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday (June 9). Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the session.
The total cost is finalized at Tk 3,890.97 crore. The government will provide Tk 3,090.62 crore from its own funds, while the implementing agencies will cover the remaining Tk 800.35 crore. The approved portfolio includes five new projects, three revisions, and two extensions.
Major Projects Approved
Infrastructure: The largest allocation goes to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges to upgrade the Anwara-Baanshkhali-Taitong-Pekua-Badarkhali-Chakaria (Eidmoni) regional highway.
Health: Expansion of the Bangladesh Children’s Hospital and Institute (Phase II) and the revised construction proposal for the Dhaka CMH Cancer Center (Phase II).
Water Resources: Maintenance and rehabilitation of the Barisal Irrigation Project (Phase I).
Education: Third revisions for both the Madrasa Education Management and Information System (MEMIS) and the establishment of multimedia classrooms in 653 madrasas.
Public Administration & Land: Construction of the Integrated Upazila Land Complex, the Mymensingh City Corporation’s urban building, and the installation of lifts in 33 district circuit houses and the Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Energy: Enhancing the capacity of existing grid substations and transmission lines.
Additional Projects Reviewed
The committee was also briefed on six projects costing less than Tk 50 crore each. These focus on public welfare and urban development, including:
Water supply and sanitation improvements across 30 municipalities
Waste management and traffic congestion reduction in Dhaka South City Corporation
The second phase of the Child Marriage Prevention Program
Establishment of the Paikgachha Agricultural College in Khulna
Infrastructure expansion in Dhaka Cantonment and the postal service
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, alongside cabinet members and senior officials, attended the meeting.
