The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved eight projects worth Tk 11,324 crore on Wednesday.
The approval came at the Ecnec meeting held virtually with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The Premier chaired the meeting from her official Ganabhaban residence while ministers, state ministers, secretaries and other officials concerned joined the meeting from the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “A total of eight projects were approved today (Wednesday) involving an estimated cost of Tk 11,324.33 crore.”
“Of the total project cost, Tk 5,140.39 crore will come from the government, Tk 18.12 crore from the concerned organization’s own fund while the rest of Tk 6,165.82 crore as foreign assistance loan,” he added.
Of the approved eight projects, six are new while two are revised projects.
The first amendment of the project of construction of important bridges on rural roads of the local government department has been approved. The original cost of the project was Tk 3,926.76 crore.
In the first amendment, the expenditure has been increased by Tk 2,530.43 crore to Tk 6,457.19 crore. The project was to be implemented from January 2018 to June 2021.
Now the duration of the project has been extended till June 2024.
The planning minister said that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned, including the Local Government Division, the Roads and Highways Department and the Bridges Authority, to take care so that the usual flow of water in the rivers and the water bodies is not hindered after the construction of bridges unnecessarily.
The Prime Minister also directed the concerned authorities to pursue a master plan to ascertain how many bridges should be built on a river. “Don’t take tentative decisions or a decision on the spot, rather take decisions following a master plan.”
Pointing towards the tendency of cost escalation of projects following the incorporation of newer items after project revisions, the Prime Minister has ordered the concerned authorities to identify those for whose faults the design of a project turned out to be faulty resulting in wastage of time and money.
“Take action against those who are liable for such deeds so that there is no such reoccurrence and it’s a general directive to all concerned. All must be careful and there should not be any delay while accomplishing your tasks,” added the premier.
Mannan said that Sheikh Hasina also stressed the need for ensuring wider participation of contractors in the development works, including the fresh contractors, without breaking the existing laws, rules and regulations.
However, the first amendment of the “Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply” project of the Local Government Department has been approved.
The original cost of the project was Tk 5,248.06 crore. In the amendment, the cost of the project has been increased by Tk 2,903 crore to Tk 8,151.07 crore.
The project, which started in January 2014, was scheduled to be completed in December 2019. Now it has been extended till June 2022.
However, among the six new projects, the Local Government Department's 'Infrastructure Development in 10 Municipalities of Tangail District' project has been approved.
It will cost Tk 272.34 crore. The project will be implemented from January 2021 to December 2023.
The project titled “Vehicle Driving Training” was also approved at the Ecnec meeting. The Ministry of Youth and Sports implemented the project at a cost of Tk 105.94 crore. The project will be implemented from January 2021 to December 2023.
Besides, the Ecnec also approved the project titled “Development of Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Empowerment at the grassroots level”. The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs implemented the project at the cost of Tk 427.98 crore from January 2021 to December 2025.
The project titled “Digital Entrepreneur and Innovation Eco-System Development” involving Tk 353.06 crore was approved at the Ecnec meeting.
The Department of Information and Communication Technology implemented the project from January 2021 to December 2025.
The Prime Minister's Office's project titled “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial Development” has been approved at a cost of Tk 4,348.21 crore.
The project will be implemented from July 2021 to December 2025.
The Department of Power's project titled “Hatia Island, Nijhum Island and Kutubdia Island 100 percent Reliable and Sustainable Electrification” has been approved at a cost of Tk 384.36 crore. The project will be implemented from July 2020 to June 2023.
