ECNEC approves 13 projects, defers four
File photo of an ECNEC meeting.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 13 development projects while deferring approval of four others for further review and examination.
The deferred projects include the establishment of Netrokona University and a project to improve major roads, drains and footpaths under the Dhaka South City Corporation.
The decisions were taken at an ECNEC meeting held on Wednesday at the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat in the capital. Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting. Several officials who attended the meeting confirmed the information to Agamir Somoy.
The other two deferred projects are: the Local Economic Development (LED) in Selected Municipalities project and the Metro Dhaka: Water Supply and Sanitation project. Instructions were given to further examine and scrutinise the projects before making a final decision.
The meeting was originally scheduled to be held on October 25. However, it was postponed due to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Japan.
Among the projects approved by ECNEC are the procurement of specialised and operational vehicles to enhance the capacity of Bangladesh Police. The project to drill two appraisal and development gas wells, Titas-32 and Titas-33, at the Titas gas field was also approved.
Other approved projects include Innovation Climate Smart Urban Development, the Safe Water Supply and Sanitation Project in the Barind region, the establishment of nuclear medicine centres at five medical colleges across the country, and the first phase of a project to protect, restore and re-excavate the banks of various canals under the Barishal City Corporation.
The Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5) was also approved.
In addition, ECNEC approved the construction of B-Type officers’ residences in the Moinul Road residential area of Dhaka Cantonment, the construction of multi-storey buildings for government employees at Gabtala Colony at Jigatala, and a project to construct bridges or culverts up to 15 metres in length on rural roads.
Projects Reported to ECNEC
Several projects costing less than Tk50 crore were approved by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. In accordance with existing rules, ECNEC was informed about these projects during the meeting.
Such projects include the modernisation of cardiac treatment services at the Dinajpur Zia Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, ensuring safe internet use for children, adolescents and secondary-level students across the country, improving traffic infrastructure to ensure road safety in areas under the Dhaka North City Corporation, and the expansion and modernisation of the Dhaka Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre.
