The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is set to consider 13 development projects at its 12th meeting of the fiscal year 2025-26, scheduled to be held on Tuesday at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting which will begin at 10:00am in the Cabinet Room of Secretariat, according to an official notice.
The committee is expected to review a mix of new and revised development projects covering water resources, transport infrastructure, local government, health, education, power transmission and industrial development sectors.
Among the major projects on the agenda is the proposed Barishal Irrigation Project Maintenance and Rehabilitation (Phase-I), scheduled for implementation from January 2026 to June 2029, aimed at improving irrigation facilities and ensuring sustainable water management in the region.
Another significant proposal is the Greater Jashore Waterlogging Mitigation and Irrigation Area Development Project, which is expected to run from January 2026 to June 2030 to address chronic waterlogging problems and expand irrigation coverage.
ECNEC will also review a proposal for the construction of Integrated Upazila Land Complexes across the country between January 2026 and December 2030 to enhance land administration services at the local level.
In the urban development sector, the committee is expected to consider the construction of the Mymensingh City Corporation Nagar Bhaban, scheduled for implementation from January 2026 to December 2028.
A major road infrastructure project involving the upgrading of the Anwara–Banshkhali–Toitong–Pekua–Badarkhali–Chakaria (Eidmoni) Regional Highway (R-170) from Kalabibir Dighi to Eidmoni is also on the agenda. The project aims to improve the highway to the required standard and width and is proposed to be implemented between July 2026 and June 2030.
Among the revised projects, ECNEC will consider the third revision of the Khulna Shipyard Road Widening and Improvement Project, whose implementation period is proposed to continue until June 2027.
The committee will also review a proposal to extend the duration of the project involving the installation of lifts at circuit houses and deputy commissioners’ offices in 33 districts, including Thakurgaon.
In the health sector, a new proposal titled Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Expansion Project-II is expected to receive consideration. The project is planned for implementation from July 2026 to June 2028 to strengthen paediatric healthcare services.
Another health-related project on the agenda is the first revision of the Cancer Centre Construction Project (Phase-II) at Dhaka CMH, with the revised implementation period extending until December 2027.
In the education sector, ECNEC will review the third revision of the Madrasah Education Management and Information System (MEMIS) Support Project, along with a proposal to extend the project period until December 2027.
The committee is also expected to consider an extension of the project for establishing multimedia classrooms in 653 madrasahs nationwide, which has been under implementation since 2017.
A new project titled Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone has also been included in the agenda. The initiative is proposed to be implemented from January 2027 to December 2031 to facilitate industrial development and foreign investment.
Additionally, ECNEC will review the first revision of a project aimed at enhancing the capacity of existing grid substations and transmission lines, with implementation proposed through September 2028.
Apart from these projects, the meeting will be informed about six projects that have already been approved by the minister concerned or the former Planning Adviser.
These include the second revised Water Supply and Sanitation Project in 30 Municipalities, the revised Dhaka South City Corporation Waste Management and Mechanised Parking Project, and a project for the expansion and simplification of postal services at the citizen level.
Other approved projects include the expansion of infrastructure facilities for the MES Training Cell in Dhaka Cantonment, the second phase of the programme to accelerate efforts to eliminate child marriage in Bangladesh, and the second revised Paikgacha Agricultural College Establishment Project in Khulna.