ECNEC approves record 17 projects worth Tk 89.74b

The interim government on Tuesday approved a record 17 development projects in a single sitting, six of them revised, without facing the press, as the planning adviser once again avoided the post-ECNEC media briefing.

The move comes amid rising concerns over transparency and scrutiny during the interim administration's project approval spree.

Presided over by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) endorsed the projects with a combined estimated cost of Tk 89.74 billion, Planning Commission officials said.

It was the second time within a month that the interim regime refrained from briefing the press, echoing a similar silence after a May 24 meeting where nine projects worth Tk 118.51 billion were cleared.

Earlier in November 2023, the ousted Sheikh Hasina government just before the last election in 2024 approved 37 development projects worth Tk 526.12 billion, which was the second highest number during her past five years and three times higher than usual.

Each ECNEC in Bangladesh usually approves 6-12 projects, but analysts have expressed concerns over the sudden move of the interim government over the projects approval spree "without proper vetting".

They say that since there is no parliament now, the interim government should be accountable to the people regarding its development works through facing the press with questions and answer session.

On the day, the ECNEC approved World Bank (WB)-financed five development projects with a combined cost of Tk 32.88 billion, avoiding proper scrutinisation of the project proposals, insiders have said.

"We have scrutinised the projects within a shorter span of time as there were some instructions for rapidly endorsing the WB-funded projects," a PC official told The Financial Express, requesting for anonymity.

Among the WB-supported projects, the Improvement of Public Investment Management System (IPIMS) of the Planning Division was approved at Tk 3.16 billion, Procurement Modernisation to Improve Public Service Delivery (PMIPSD) of the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority at Tk 5.52 billion, Statistical Capacity Enhancement and Modernisation Project (SCEMP) of the BBS at Tk 10.96 billion, Strengthening Public Audit Through Digital Transformation of the Comptroller and Auditor General office at Tk 3.15 billion, and the Capacity Enhancement (SPADTEC) and Strengthening Domestic Revenue Mobilisation Project (SDRMP) of the National Board of Revenue at Tk 10.0 billion cost.

Other projects endorsed are: the Upazila Complex Expansion Project phase-II, (2nd revised) by extending the cost by Tk 4.83 billion, Integrated services and livelihood improvement of the forcibly displaced Rohingya and the host community at Tk 6.52 billion, Construction of 200-bed drug addiction cure and rehabilitation centers in 7 divisional cities at Tk 14.13 billion, Enhancing capacity of four newly built marine academies through installing simulators and other related facilities at Tk 2.48 billion, Access to Justice for Women: strengthening community dispute resolution and improving case management at Tk 1.86 billion, and Establishment of 3rd submarine cable for expanding the international telecommunication system in Bangladesh (2nd revised) extending the cost by Tk 2.30 billion cost.

Besides, the Construction of 13 new buffer godowns in 13 districts of Bangladesh for enhancing the fertilizer preservation and distribution facilities (3rd revised) by reducing cost by Tk 13.60 million, Establishment of Kishore-Kishori Club (1st revised) extending cost by Tk 1.15 billion, Strengthening integrated services and operations of quick response team for preventing women and children repression at Tk 3.09 billion, TVET Teachers for the future (TTF) Programme at Tk 20.09 billion, Countrywide Mobile Library (3rd revised) extending the cost by Tk 384.1 million, Strengthening the development budget management system through installing a new digital database at programming division (3rd revised) project extending the cost by Tk 20.4 million were also approved at the meeting.

Apart from these, the ECNEC meeting was also apprised of 15 projects approved earlier by the Planning Adviser.

Advisers concerned attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries were present.

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