The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 13 projects involving Tk 15,823.57 crore including schemes for flood and river management, healthcare, land administration, rural roads, Shahjalal International Airport expansion and power infrastructure.
Of the total project cost, Tk 10,118.33 crore will come from government funds, Tk 5,252.96 crore from project loans and Tk 382.28 crore from agencies’ own funds.
The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting held at the Cabinet Room of Secretariat with Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman in the chair.
Of the 13 projects, eight are new, three are revised and two involve extensions of project implementation periods.
The meeting approved two projects under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Bangladesh project and the first revised project for establishing Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital.
The Finance Ministry’s Financial Sector Support Project-II (FSSP-II) was also approved.
Under the Ministry of Social Welfare, ECNEC approved a project to develop and expand existing physical disability training centres in Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions and expand hostel facilities at the institution for children with intellectual disabilities at Roufabad in Chattogram.
Two water resources projects are- integrated flood and river management and improvement of drainage systems in the Chhoto Feni and Bamni river basins including construction of the Musapur Regulator while the other aims to protect Shibpur, Dhania and Medua areas under Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from erosion by the Meghna River.
A second revised project under the Ministry of Land will establish digital land management systems through digital land surveys in three city corporations, one municipality and two rural upazilas.
Two projects under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives were also approved. They are- widening and strengthening important upazila and union roads in Rangpur Division and developing rural infrastructure in Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari districts.
ECNEC approved the third revised phase of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project (Phase I).
It also approved the second revised project for enhancing the technical and technological capacity of the Special Response Battalion (SRB), formerly known as RAB.
Two power and energy projects were approved,including land acquisition for a solar power plant in Sonagazi of Feni district and expansion of the electricity network in three hill districts.
The ECNEC was also informed about 15 projects costing less than Tk 50 crore each that have already been approved by the Planning Minister.
The projects include infrastructure expansion at Bangladesh International School and College, Nirjhor, Dhaka Cantonment; infrastructure development at BAF Shaheen College, Kurmitola; infrastructure development of Alikadam Cantonment Public School and College; establishment and infrastructure development of government primary schools in Dhaka metropolitan area and Purbachal; and establishment of regional BSTI offices in 10 districts.
Other projects include the first revised Rupsha 800MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, development of the Mirpur UCEP Institute for Labour and Employment, the first revised Climate-Smart Agriculture and Water Management project, and flood control and riverbank protection along the Dharla River in Kurigram.
The list also includes riverbank protection along both banks of the Kushiyara River in front of the Bibiyana power plants in Habiganj, road and drainage development in Mymensingh City Corporation, safe water supply, water supply and sanitation in 23 municipalities, upgrading of the Bhuyapur-Tarakandi regional highway, and a project to supply treated surface water through pipelines and improve sanitation in Chapainawabganj Municipality.