The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved the first revision of the expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA-1st phase) project with an additional cost of Tk 7,788.59 crore.

Ecnec also extended the project period till June 2025.

The approval came from the weekly Ecnec meeting held at NEC conference room here with Ecnec Chairperson Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

With the additional cost, the total expenditure of the HSIA expansion project now stands at Tk 21,399.06 crore against the original outlay of Tk 13,610.47 crore.

 “Today's meeting approved seven projects involving the cost of TK 9,241.25, including Tk 7,788.59 crore additional cost of HSIA expansion project crore,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Of the total cost, Tk 4,315.1 crore will come from government funds, while the rest Tk 4,926.24 crore as project loan.

Among the seven projects, five are new and the remaining two are revised ones.

The two revised projects are HSIA Expansion (1st phase-1st revised) and Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Complex in Islamabad of Pakistan (3rd revised).

The project was undertaken to ensure security of international standard s for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport amid the growing air traffic.

The main project operations include construction of a 3rd passenger terminal on a space of 2,30,000 square metres with 115 check-in counters, 64 departure immigration points, 64 arrival immigration points, 27 baggage ex-ray machines, 40 cabin ex-ray machines, 12 boarding bridges, 16 conveyor belts and 11 body scanners.

Besides, the project cost of the Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Complex in Islamabad of Pakistan (3rd revised) increased to Tk 79.86 crore with an additional cost of Tk 15.34 crore.

The five fresh projects approved at the Ecnec meeting are Upgrading the Kushtia portion of Jhenaidah-Kushtia-Pakshi-Dashuria Highway into a four-lane one with an estimated cost of Tk 574.17 crore, Upgrading Keraniganj to Hasara of Munshiganj District Highway with Tk 409.05 crore, Upgrading Ramu-Fatehkharkul-Morichhya National Highway with Tk 266.17 crore, Upgrading Nageshwari-Kashipur-Fulbari-Kulaghat-Lalmonirhat district highway with Tk 99.35 crore and infrastructure development of three colleges in Dhaka, Madaripur and Rangpur districts with Tk 88.58 crore.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister (LGRD) Minister Md Tazul Islam on Tuesday said the government is working to modernise all the tiers of local government.

“The government is working to modernise not only big city corporations but all levels of the local government. We’re working to make all possible services available to the general people at the union and upazila levels,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion titled ‘Smart City Initiative in Bangladesh’, the minister further said, “Every village will be made community-oriented by putting forward the 'My Village-My City' programme."

Awami League Subcommittee on Science and Technology arranged the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

There will be residential areas, educational institutions, sewerage systems, waste management and improved communication systems in villages, Tazul added.

He also spoke about modernising waste management system. "The collection and management of excessive waste have become extremely difficult...we have to be modern and smart in waste management," he said.

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam said the city authorities are working to launch a one-stop service app soon.

"We’re moving forward with the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina...we’re constantly working to build a modern Dhaka by ensuring citizen serviced. We're going to launch a one-stop app called "Nagar App" very soon,” he said.

The DNCC mayor mentioned that through the app, various facilities, including waste management and public transportation, will be available in a single widow.

A case was filed against a man on Tuesday as he allegedly strangulated his pregnant wife and two children to death over a family feud at Kamalkasna Birbhadra in the city.

Deceased woman’s brother filed the case against the lone accused Abdur Razzak with Rangpur Police Station.

The deceased were Asfia Akhter Ratna, 32, wife of Abdur Razzak, and their children Neha, 3, and Nishad, 1.

According to case statement, Razzak, who was a drug addict strangulated his six-month pregnant wife and two children to death and tried to commit suicide on Sunday.

Razzak was arrested and sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam on Tuesday said the Mohakhali inter-district bus terminal will have to be relocated outside the capital to ease the traffic snarl-up.

“Inter-district buses can in no way run inside Dhaka. This contributes to traffic chaos and adds to people’s sufferings. The decision to establish an inter-district bus terminal in the heart of the city was a wrong one,” he said.

Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with bus owners and workers at the bus terminal, Aitqul also assured that his city corporation will help build a new bus terminal outside Dhaka. “The city corporation will look for the place to set up the bus terminal,” he said.

He urged the bus owners to make sure so that no bus can stand on the road in front of the bus terminal as it causes traffic congestion.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association Khandaker Enayetullah described lack of skilled drivers as the main reason behind frequent road accidents.

He, however, said a project for creating 3 lakh skilled drivers is going on at the initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Abdul Hye, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Syed Ahmed and General Secretary of Road Transport Workers’ Federation were, among others, present at the meeting.

A teenage female coil worker was reportedly gang-raped in Fatullah after mugging on Monday night.

Police have arrested six people over the incident that took place at Masdair.

The arrestees are Rasel, 38, son of Siraj Uddin, Sujon, 23, son of late Ruku Mia, Shahadat, 22, son of Khorshed Alam, Sumon, 22, son of Farid Mia, Robin, 23, son of Hadisur Rahman, and Md Al Amin, 21, son of Abdul Latif.

They all are local miscreants of Shiachar area in Fatullah, said acting Superintendent of Police Monirul Islam at a press briefing at Fatullah Model Police Station on Tuesday.

The victim was returning home from workplace with her cousin when Rasel and his associates stopped them around 6pm on Monday and snatched Tk 3,400 from them, he said.

They beat up the victim’s cousin and handed the girl to Robin and Sumon who violated the victim one after another in an empty house, the SP added.

The rapists also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone, he said, adding that the girl, however, called national emergency hotline number 999 for help.

A team of police rushed to the spot and arrested all the six criminals within six hours, the SP said.

Inspector of Fatullah Model Police Station Mizanur Rahman said the victim filed a case on Monday night in this regard.