ECNEC okays 12 development projects worth Tk 71.5b

The government on Monday gave the nod to 12 development projects, including four revised schemes, involving a total of Tk 71.50 billion.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the eight fresh projects, two revised ones and extended execution time for two others at its meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair.

The entire amount of the combined cost will be financed from the government's own resources. The ECNEC meeting, however, sent back the "Land registration automation project" for further review. After the meeting, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud or any representatives from the government has not briefed journalist about the outcome of the ECNEC meeting.

The newly approved eight projects include "Important Rural Infrastructure Development in Manikganj District" at a cost of Tk 4.50 billion, "Rural Infrastructure Development in Satkhira District" for Tk 19.30 billion, "Improvement of Small Irrigation System in Haor Areas of Kishoreganj and Netrokona Districts" for Tk 1.65 billion, "Infrastructure Development of Gazipur Agricultural University" for Tk 5.67 billion, the "Integrated Development for Operational Management of the Directorate of Health Education, NIPORT and Directorate of Nursing & Midwifery project" for Tk 2.12 billion, "Implementation of Essential Remaining Activities of PFD, HEF, IFM, HRD and SWPMM" for Tk 15.46 billion, "Construction of 'B'-Type Officers' Residential Buildings at Nirjhor Residential Area, Dhaka Cantonment" for Tk 1.78 billion, and the "Implementation of the Remaining Activities of Essential Family Planning, Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health Services under the 4th Sector Programme" for Tk 2.11 billion.

The two revised projects are the "BSCIC Industrial Park, Tangail (3rd revised)" with an additional cost of Tk 394.3 million and "Establishment of One Engineering College in Each of Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions (2nd revised)" with an additional cost of Tk 3.95 billion.

The execution tenure of the two other projects was extended without increasing the cost. They are: the "Construction of Kalia Bridge over Nabaganga River at the 21st Kilometer of Narail-Kalia District Highway" for Tk 1.36 billion, and the "Construction of Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka (Phase 3) (1st revised)" for Tk 3.97 billion.

In addition, the ECNEC meeting was informed about nine projects which cost below Tk 500 million and were approved by the planning adviser. The planning adviser has the authority to approve projects worth Tk 500 million or below without sending those to the ECNEC.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed; Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs and Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul; Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd); Industries and Housing & Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan; Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, Road Transport & Bridges, and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan; Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan; Health & Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum; Disaster Management & Relief and Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq E Azam, Bir Pratik and Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, among others, attended the meeting.