The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved 12 projects worth Tk 19,598.84 crore including increasing the construction cost of the Padma Bridge.
The approval came from the Ecnec meeting held with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Tuesday.
Ministers, state ministers, planning commission members and secretaries concerned also attended the meeting at 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 12 projects were approved on Tuesday involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 19,598.84 billion.
Out of the total amounts, Tk 6,260.72 crore will be spent from government funds, Tk 134.46 crore from implementing agencies and Tk 13,203.66 crore from foreign loans.
The Planning Minister said, “Two projects were presented for approval but those were returned. The two projects are the training of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the acquisition of land at the burial site of Bangabandhu. In this regard, the Prime Minister said, instead of building new infrastructure, the existing infrastructure should be used effectively.”
Quoting the Prime Minister, the Planning Minister said, “Land acquisition is taking place in my area and I don't know about it. I will check first. Then bring the project again.”
The approved projects are - Programme on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship and Resilience in Bangladesh, Building Climate Resilient Livelihood in the Vulnerable Landscapes in Bangladesh (BCRL), Project for Erosion Protection of Kirtankhola River in Charkaua, Chandmari, Jagua, Lamchari and Charmonai in SadarUpazila of Barisal District (1st Phase), Establishment of Institute of Nanotechnology, Improving Computer and Software Engineering Tertiary Education Project.
Other projects are - Safer Cyberspace for Digital Bangladesh: Enhancing National and Regional Digital Investigation Capability of Bangladesh Police, Reconstruction of Mymensingh Central Jail, Construction of Padma multipurpose bridge, Bangladesh Road Safety, Construction of a dual gauge railway line parallel to the existing meter gauge railway line in Dhaka-Narayanganj section, Rehabilitation and quality improvement of level crossing gates in the eastern part of Bangladesh Railway and Procurement of 02 Crude Well Mother Tankers and 02 Mother Bulk Carrier Vessels on G2G basis.
