Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked all concerned to take necessary preparations in advance to face probable floods in the country.

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She made the directive chairing the 1st meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in the new fiscal year 2024-2025 (FY25) at the NEC Conference Room in the city.

“She said floods may hit (the country). We’ve to be prepared so that we can take quick measures if floods affect (the country),” said Planning Minister Abdus Salam at a press briefing after the meeting.

The minister said the prime minister, based on the forecast of Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the experts concerned, apprehended that a possible flood may sweep over the country in the coming days possibly in August.

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Replying to a question over the directive, Planning Secretary Satyajit Karmakar said the PM had said that there is a possibility of floods in August due to a growing trend of rainfall in the country and rise of water upstream of major rivers.

He said the PM directed all concerned including the civil administration and field administration to take necessary preparations to face the floods in a bid to protect the people of the country from the impacts and devastation of floods.

Talking about the projects, the senior secretary of Planning Division said the Ecnec approved a total of 11 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 5,459.87 crore.

Of the total cost, Tk 5,214.34 crore will come from the national exchequer, Tk 140.44 crore from external sources as project assistance and  the rest Tk 105.09 crore from the fund of an organisation concerned, he said.

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The 11 projects include seven fresh schemes and four revised ones, said the secretary.