The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC)on Tuesday approved 10 development projects including a Tk 1059 crore one to develop 5G-capable optical fiber transmission network for expanding uninterrupted telecommunication and broadband internet facilities throughout the country.
The approval came from the 71st Ecnec meeting held with Ecnec chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The PM joined the meeting, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, while ministers and officials concerned attended it at the NEC Conference Room.
“Today the meeting approved a total of 10 projects including two revised ones and the overall estimated cost of the projects is Tk 8,804.10 crore (only additional of the revised projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Of the cost, Tk 8,515.87 crore will be borne from the GoB fund, while Tk 120.78 crore from the own fund of an organisation concerned. The rest Tk 167.45 crore will come from foreign sources as project loan.
The Minister the ADP implementation rate from July-December, 2021 was 30.21 percent, which is higher than 28.45 percent attained in July-December, 2020.
“Our ADP implementation rate, GDP, growth rate and per capita income have increased…..It has been possible due to the prompt and firm decisions taken by the Prime Minister ,” said Mannan.
Talking about the project titled ‘Development of Optical Fiber Transmission Network of BTCL for 5G,’ the Planning Minister said the project will be implemented by December 2024 in order to upgrade our infrastructures and networks for 5G.
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The main project objective is to reach uninterrupted telecommunication and broadband internet facilities throughout the country and to upgrade and expand the optical fiber transmission network of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company limited( BTCL) to meet the growing demand.
Referring to a project titled ‘Hospital Based Medical Waste Management in 15 Government Hospitals with estimated cost of Tk 214.48 crore, Mannan said the Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned to bring other government hospitals under such management gradually.
She said the government will develop a legal system to motivate private hospitals to follow this management.
During the approval of ‘Establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo-Theatre (Planetarium) in Khulna project involving Tk 553.84 crore, the PM directed the authorities concerned to set up Novo Theatres in other districts in phases.
She also asked them to consider if a separate body can be set up under the Science and Technology Ministry to supervise the operations of the Novo Theatres.
Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities to expedite the preparations to launch the Bangabandhu-II satellite.
During approval of another project titled ‘Smart Prepayment Metering Project in Distribution Zones of BPDB’ involving Tk 619.30 crore, the PM directed the authorities concerned to find out a strategy for gradual withdrawal of subsidy from gas and electricity.
“The subsidy is a serious matter. We must get out of the system,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan quoting her as saying.
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Noting that a huge subsidy is being provided now, she questioned how long the government should continue to provide the large amount of subsidy.
“We’ll have to come out of the subsidy. The subsidy is not a just thing…. Some people are getting it (subsidy) and some others are paying for it,” she was quoted.
Replying to a question, State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said no discussion was held over agricultural subsidy in the meeting. “The agricultural subsidy will continue as it will help increase production,” he said.
“The Prime Minister talked about electricity and gas subsidies as these are used not only by the poor but also by industries,” he said.
Four other fresh projects are ‘Rehabilitation of Coastal Dams, Development of Drainage System and Protection of Banks in Mujib Nagar and Monpura of Bhola District, Phase-I’ project with estimated cost of Tk 1092.70 crore, Rehabilitation of Polders 41/6A, 41/6B and 41/7A as well as Protection of Betagi town and other vulnerable parts from river erosion caused by Bishkhali and Payra rivers in Barguna District’ with Tk 826.49 crore, ’Integrated Community Based Center for Child Care, Protection and Swim-Safe Facilities’ project with Tk 271.83 crore, and ‘Establishment of 2 Modern Fire Stations in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial Estate’ with Tk 122.72 crore.
Meanwhile, the Ecnec endorsed the 1st revision of ‘Land Acquisition and Utility Transfer Project: Support to Improvement of Dhaka (Kachpur)-Sylhet-Tamabil Highway into 4-lane one and construction of service lanes on its two sides Project’ raising its cost by Tk 4,089.59 crore. The cost was Tk 3,885.72 in the original project, which now stands at Tk 7,975.31 crore.
The meeting approved ‘SASEC Road Connectivity Project: Improvement of Joydebpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga Road (N-4) into a 4-lane highway (3rd revised)’ slashing cost by Tk 45.95 crore as it cost came down to Tk 6168.46 crore from 6,214.41 crore. In the original project, the cost was Tk 2,788.45 crore.
