ECNEC approves five projects including Chinese economic zone infrastructure

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved five development projects, including the construction of supporting infrastructure for a Chinese economic and industrial zone, with a combined estimated cost of Tk 7,336 crore.

The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the Public Administration Meeting Room of the Prime Minister's Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on June 16. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting.

Of the total project cost, Tk 4,536 crore will be financed from the government's own funds, while Tk 2,467 crore will come from project loans. Among the approved projects, three are new and two are revised.

The approved projects are:

1. Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone
2. Rehabilitation of Muhuri-Kahua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project in Feni District (Phase I)
3. Karatoa River System Development Project
4. Protection of Talbaria in Mirpur Upazila of Kushtia and Komarkandi area of Shilaidah Union in Kumarkhali Upazila from Padma River erosion (First Revised) Project
5. Establishment of One Technical School and College in Each of 100 Upazilas (Third Revised) Project

The Planning Ministry also informed the meeting about four projects costing less than Tk 50 crore:

• Construction of Air Force Barrack Complex at Bangladesh Air Force Base Cox's Bazar
• Establishment of Navy School and College, Savar
• Construction of physical infrastructure to improve education quality and teaching capacity at BAF Shaheen College, Bangladesh Air Force Station Shamsernagar
• Pagoda-based Pre-primary and Religious Education Programme (Phase IV)

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, State Minister for Planning Md Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, and other senior officials attended the meeting.