ECNEC Approves Eight Projects Worth Tk 14,041 Crore

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved eight development projects worth a combined Tk 14,041.21 crore. Of this, Tk 10,494.21 crore will come from government funds while Tk 3,550.44 crore will be financed through project loans.

The approvals came at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division conference room in Bangladesh Secretariat. Three of the eight projects are new and five are revised. Senior ministers including Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the meeting.

The Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry secured approval for three projects, the second phase of Universal Social Infrastructure Development, an integrated development project for greater Dinajpur district and a rural road maintenance and employment scheme.

Other approvals include a revised disaster shelter construction project, the second revision of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, a power distribution upgrade for Sylhet division, gas well drilling projects in Begumganj and Sunetra and an expansion of kidney dialysis facilities at hospitals nationwide.

The meeting was also briefed on 11 smaller projects each under Tk 50 crore, earlier cleared by the Planning Minister. These include regional office expansions for the National University, a vocational institute upgrade in Barishal mobile network installation at Dhaka airport's third terminal and road improvements in several districts, power transmission upgrades for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and new BITAC centres in six districts.