The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved 15 development projects, including one involving Tk 4,168-crore  to reclaim the water flows of four rivers – Jinai, Ghatghat, Banshi and Nagda—during the dry season.

The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Prime Minister and Ecnec chairperson Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area.

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“The overall estimated cost of 15 projects is Tk 18,010.12 crore,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters.

Of the cost, Tk 12,192.07 crore will come from the government’s fund, while Tk 5,233.43 crore from foreign sources and Tk 584.62 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned, he said.

Among the approved 15 projects, 14 projects are fresh and the rest one is revised.

In terms of cost, the largest project is “Ensuring water flows during dry season to restore flow in Jinai, Ghatghat, Banshi and Nagda rivers, riverways development and flood management,” involving with the estimated cost of Tk 4,168.16 crore.

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It will be implemented in a number of upazila in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj, Jamalpur, Tangail and Sherpur by December 2026.

The projects also included one titled ‘Amar Gram Amar Shohor (My Village My Town): Pilot Village Development’ project, which was designed to turn 15 villages of 15 separate districts into townships at an expense of Tk 800 crore.

The ultimate objective of the project is to extend modern urban facilities to every village throughout the country in line with the electoral pledge made by the government.

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The major project operations include upazila, Union and rural roads development, construction of growth centers, rural market development and agri products collection centers, ensuring water supply, sanitation and integrated waste management plant, Construction of upazila multipurpose sports and cultural centers, development of schools playing grounds, development of rural accommodation, excavation of canals and ponds, erection of street lamps, supplying of Bondhu Chula and Biogas plants, social afforestation and village branding.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned for revising the rate schedules of different works of development projects in line with the changing prices of construction materials.

She made this directive, mentioning that the prices of construction materials like iron, cement, stones and bricks are witnessing an upward trend in the market.

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"The Prime Minister has clearly directed the Ministry of Finance and other concerned agencies to address these issues," said Mannan.

Besides, the PM directed the Law Ministry to take necessary steps for easing the backlog of tax-related cases with the Supreme Court and thus realizing taxes to enrich the state coffer.

The other projects include Boropukuria-Bogura-Kaliakoir 400KV Line Project, 2nd revised with an additional cost of Tk 5,753.61 crore, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Film City, 2nd phase with the estimated cost of Tk 379.92 crore, Establishment of Sylhet Medical University (SMU) with Tk 2,036.42 crore, Construction of Ulipur (Helipad Circle)-Chilmari (Gunaigach) Link road with Tk 68.25 crore, Enhancing the qualitative standard of design and construction for ensuring resiliency of private buildings with Tk 70.58 crore, Integrated and sustainable poura water supply and sanitation at Chattogram Hill Tracts with Taka 1,196.29 crore.

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The rest projects are Construction of record building for Bangladesh Supreme Court with Tk 279.41 crore, Barishal, Bhola, Jhalkati and Pirojpur district irrigation development project with Tk 348.91 crore, Supplying Padma River water to Barind area through double lifting method and extension of irrigation with Tk 548.05 crore, Establishment and development of Tissue Culture Laboratory Cum Horticulture Center with Tk 394.88 crore, Construction of Urirchar-Noakhali Cross Dam for land reclamation with Tk 588.94 crore, Permanent rehabilitation and preservation of slopes at the affected embankment of polder number 72 under Sandwip upazila in Chattogram district with Tk 562.21 crore and Constructing newer food godowns and ancillary facilities at various strategic locations of the country with Tk 814.50 crore.

Besides, the meeting also approved the extension of time frame without raising cost for two projects titled ‘Construction of Upazila Muktijoddha Complex Bhaban, 1st revised’ and Construction of loop-road along the outer-wall of Asian University for Women and Construction of Link Road from Dhaka Trunk Road to Bayezid Bostami Road, 2nd revised.

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