United News of Bangladesh

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved eight development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 2,266.41 crore. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division of Secretariat. Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk 2,229.13 crore while implementing agencies will contribute Tk 37.28 crore from their own funds. Among the approved projects, three are new and three revised while two projects granted time extensions. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Ministry officials said the approved projects cover the sectors of water resources, transport infrastructure, public administration, health, education and power. Among the major projects approved was the first-phase maintenance and rehabilitation of the Barishal Irrigation Project under the Ministry of Water Resources. The meeting also cleared a project to upgrade the Anwara-Banshkhali-Toitong-Pekua-Badarkhali-Chakaria (Idmani) regional highway to the required standard and width. A project for installing lifts at circuit houses and deputy commissioners’ offices in 33 districts, including Thakurgaon, was also approved. In the health sector, ECNEC approved the second phase of the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Expansion Project. The committee also approved the first revised project for the expansion of existing grid substations and transmission lines under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Other approved schemes include the second phase of the Cancer Centre construction project at CMH Dhaka, the third revision of the Madrasa Education Management and Information System (MEMIS) Support Project, and the third revision of a project to establish multimedia classrooms in 653 madrasas across the country. During the meeting, ECNEC was also informed about six projects costing less than Tk 50 crore each that had already been approved by the Planning Minister. These include revised projects on water supply and sanitation services in 30 municipalities, waste management and mechanised parking facilities in areas under Dhaka South City Corporation, expansion of postal services, infrastructure development of the MES Training Cell at Dhaka Cantonment, the second phase of a child marriage prevention initiative, and the revised Paikgachha Agricultural College establishment project in Khulna. Several ministers and senior government officials attended the meeting.

Two days before the placement of the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) was held on Tuesday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting, which began at 10:00am at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division at Secretariat and concluded at 1:15pm, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Agriculture Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon, and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, among others, attended the meeting. State ministers, advisers and secretaries of different ministries were also present. Senior officials from the relevant ministries and agencies placed and discussed various development project proposals at the meeting. The national budget for FY2026-27 is scheduled to be placed in Parliament on June 11 by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. Earlier, on May 18, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved an Annual Development Programme (ADP) involving an outlay of Tk 308,924.83 crore for the next fiscal year. Before that, on May 12, ECNEC approved nine major projects, including the Padma Barrage Project involving an expenditure of more than Tk 33,000 crore.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is underway with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. The meeting began on Tuesday morning at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a release issued by the Prime Minister's Press Wing. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, among other ECNEC members, have joined the meeting. Senior officials from the relevant ministries and agencies are also present to place and discuss various development project proposals. The meeting is expected to consider a number of projects from different sectors aimed at supporting the country's economic growth and development.

The government on Wednesday approved a Tk 33,474.45 crore project to build the first phase of the Padma Barrage, aiming to revive drying river systems, reduce salinity intrusion and improve irrigation and water management in vast Padma-dependent regions. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved the project titled “Padma Barrage (1st Phase)”following endorsement by the Planning Commission. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting held at Secretariat. The project will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Ministry of Water Resources at an estimated cost of Tk 33,474.45 crore entirely from government funding. According to project documents, the implementation period has been set from July 2026 to June 2033. PM chairs ECNEC meeting at secretariat The project area will cover 19 districts across Khulna, Dhaka, Rajshahi and Barishal divisions, targeting restoration of several major river systems including the Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barashia, Baral and Ichamati rivers. Officials concerned said the proposed barrage is expected to play a critical role in addressing long-standing water management challenges in the country’s southwest and northwest regions, where reduced dry-season flow of the Padma River has severely affected agriculture, fisheries, navigation, forestry and biodiversity. The project is also aimed at reducing salinity intrusion in Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat districts, ensuring freshwater supply for the Sundarbans ecosystem and mitigating waterlogging in areas including Bhobodah in Jashore through dredging and drainage improvement works. According to the proposal, the key objectives of the project include reviving five river systems, restoring ecological balance in the Sundarbans, enhancing groundwater recharge, reducing arsenic contamination, improving irrigation facilities and creating employment opportunities through planned land development activities. The proposed infrastructure package includes construction of a 2.1-kilometre main Padma Barrage along with associated structures such as 78 sluice gates, 18 undersluices, fish passes, navigation locks, guide embankments and approach embankments. The project also includes construction of off-take structures at Gorai, Chandana and Hisna rivers, along with spillways, navigation and fish passage facilities. In addition, two hydropower plants with a combined generation capacity of 113 megawatts are planned under the scheme. Of these, a 76.4MW hydropower plant will be constructed alongside the main barrage, while another 36.6MW plant will be installed at the Gorai off-take point. Major river restoration works under the project include dredging of 135.60 kilometres of the Gorai-Madhumati river system and re-excavation of 246.46 kilometres within the Hisna river system. An additional 180 kilometres of afflux embankments are also proposed to support water regulation and flood management. According to project  documents thePadma-dependent area covers nearly 37 percent of Bangladesh and accommodates roughly one-third of the country’s population. The government linked the region’s deteriorating river flow situation to the diversion of dry-season water upstream through the Farakka Barrage, constructed in India during the 1970s to maintain navigability of the Kolkata port through the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system. Officials said reduced flow in the Padma over the decades has caused many distributary rivers in southwest and northwest Bangladesh to dry up during the lean season, leading to declining agricultural productivity, fisheries depletion, ecological stress and increased salinity in coastal districts. The project proposal stated that freshwater scarcity has also adversely affected the Sundarbans, threatening biodiversity and forest resources in the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem. The Planning Commission observed that implementation of the project would increase dry-season flow in the Padma River by conserving water through the barrage system, thereby helping revive major river networks and improving irrigation, drainage and flood resilience in the affected regions. The proposal was reviewed at a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting held on Jan 15, 2026 under the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division of the Planning Commission. Following the review, the commission recommended the project for ECNEC approval with full government financing.  

The government has constituted the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), the country’s highest body for approving public investment projects, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as its chairman. The committee was formed through a gazette notification issued on Thursday, outlining its composition, supporting officials and scope of responsibilities. According to the notification, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been appointed as the Vice-Chairman of ECNEC. Ecnec approves Tk 244.14 cr project to enhance disaster resilience The other members of the committee include Finance Minister, Housing and Public Works Minister, Foreign Minister, Industries, Housing and Public Works Minister, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Health and Family Welfare Minister, and Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister. The Planning Minister will serve as a member of the committee, while the Secretary of the Planning Division will act as the Member-Secretary. The gazette also specified a group of senior officials who will assist the committee in its functions. These include the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary or Secretary, Secretaries of the Finance Division, Economic Relations Division, Statistics and Informatics Division, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, and Planning Division. 1000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship Hospital, 24 other projects get ECNEC nod Secretaries from relevant ministries and divisions will also participate in committee proceedings when required. ECNEC is empowered to review, consider and approve all development project proposals, including Development Project Proposals (DPPs), Technical Assistance Project Proposals (TPPs), and revised project proposals. It will also examine and approve investment projects involving government funding exceeding Tk 50 crore, based on recommendations from the relevant appraisal committees. Besides, the committee will review the implementation progress of ongoing development projects to ensure timely completion and effective utilisation of public funds. ECNEC will also consider investment proposals from private sector entities, joint ventures and state-owned enterprises that require government approval or policy support. As the apex executive body for approving development projects, ECNEC plays a crucial role in implementing the government’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) and advancing national economic priorities through coordinated planning and oversight.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Sunday approved 25 development projects worth Tk 45,191.27 crore including a 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship General Hospital in the northern region. Of the total project cost, Tk 10,881.40 crore will be financed from government funds, Tk 32,018.09 crore from project loans and Tk 2,291.78 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The approvals were given at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission complex, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. Two projects -the establishment of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship General Hospital to provide advanced medical services to the people of the northern region and neighbouring countries involving Tk 2,459 crore and Health and Nutrition Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project involving Tk 8700 crore under the Health Services Division were approved in the meeting. ECNEC clears 22 development projects Among the approved projects, 14 are new, six are revised and five involve extension of project duration. Under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, two projects were approved for widening and upgrading the Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari regional highway (R-162) and upgrading three regional highways and one district road under the Munshiganj Roads Division. One revised project under the Housing and Public Works Ministry was approved for the construction of an elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry received approval for two projects relating to strengthening the existing runway and taxiway at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and introducing tourism facilities at Parki in Chattogram. Two projects under the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry were approved for promoting women entrepreneurship in sanitation and developing important rural infrastructure in Cumilla district. The Home Ministry secured approval for two projects including the construction of police outposts, investigation centres, camps, naval police centres, railway police stations and outposts, tourist police centres and highway police stations and outposts across the country as well as construction of district offices of the Department of Narcotics Control under its first phase. One revised project under Bangladesh Railway was approved for constructing a single-line dual-gauge railway track from Dohazari via Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and from Ramu to Gundum near the Myanmar border. The Youth and Sports Ministry received approval for the revised project aimed at generating employment through freelancing training for educated job-seeking youths in all 64 districts. Two revised projects under the Textiles and Jute Ministry were approved for the establishment of Sylhet Textile Engineering College and Sylhet Textile Institute. The Primary and Mass Education Ministry received approval for the project titled alternative education opportunities for out-of-school children. The Agriculture Ministry had two projects approved, including the Ashuganj–Palash Green Project and the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (third revision). Six projects under the Water Resources Ministry were approved, covering sustainable river management in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts, dredging and construction of a rubber dam on the Mahananda River in Chapainawabganj, protection of both banks of the Padma River in Chapainawabganj, erosion control along the Tetulia River in Mehendiganj upazila of Barishal, protection of the right bank of the Padma River at Majhirghat Zero Point in Zajira upazila of Shariatpur district, and integrated water and land resources management to improve livelihoods in the Arial Beel area. One revised project under the Science and Technology Ministry for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction was also approved. The ECNEC meeting was also informed about 10 projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore, which had already been approved by the Planning Adviser. These include development projects of selected government colleges, Bangladesh University of Professionals, strengthening of the Education Engineering Department through establishment of headquarters and district offices, completion of partially implemented science and education infrastructure projects, expansion of ambulance services of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, construction of RAB headquarters, widening and development of a national highway section in Narail town, and revision of the Saidpur 150 MW power plant project. In addition, the project previously titled establishment of the permanent campus of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh has been renamed as establishment of the permanent campus of Bangladesh Maritime University.  

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) approved a Tk 35,465 crore project to modernise and expand Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), aiming to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security, produce cleaner fuel and cut dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Auditorium of the Planning Commission with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Titled “Modernisation and Expansion of Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL),” the project has been undertaken by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and will be implemented by ERL on behalf of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). It falls under the power and energy sector and will be implemented in the Patenga area under Chattogram City Corporation in Chattogram district from December 2025 to November 2030. Read more: Endless delay pushes Barui Para Bridge cost to Tk 136cr; frustration grows Of the total estimated cost, Tk 21,277.59 crore will be provided as a government loan, while Tk 14,187.56 crore will come from ERL’s own resources. According to official documents, the key objectives of the project are to further reinforce national energy security, produce cleaner and more environment-friendly petroleum products and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported finished petroleum products. Under the project, a wide range of activities will be carried out, including site preparation, detailed engineering, procurement and construction involving both civil and mechanical works. A total of 20 processing units and 18 utility and off-site units will be installed as part of the expansion. Besides, electrical line connections will be taken from the Power Development Board (PDB), gas line connections from Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), drainage infrastructure will be constructed, and computers, office equipment and other ancillary items will be procured. Read more: Irregularities deepen doubts over Khulna’s mega embankment project Eastern Refinery Limited, established in 1968, currently has a crude oil processing capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes per year. At present, ERL meets only about 20 per cent of the country’s total demand for petroleum products, with the remaining requirement being fulfilled through imports. This results in a substantial outflow of foreign currency for importing refined fuels. Officials said the introduction of Euro-5 fuel standards has made petroleum product specifications much more stringent. The proposed modernised refinery will produce Euro-5 standard environment-friendly gasoline and diesel, while upgrading existing diesel, motor spirit and octane produced at ERL to Euro-5 standards. Read more: Govt set to implement new project to digitise medical, nursing education In the meantime, BPC has already implemented the “Installation of Single Point Mooring (SPM) with Double Pipeline” project, which will enable transportation of up to 4.5 million metric tonnes of crude oil annually. This development has created favourable conditions for handling larger volumes of crude oil required for the expanded refinery. The Planning Commission, in its recommendation, said that once implemented, the project would enable the country to refine 3 million metric tonnes of crude oil annually and meet around 45 to 50 per cent of national demand for petroleum products. This is expected to enhance fuel storage capacity, save a significant amount of foreign exchange and contribute to ensuring long-term energy security for the country. Under a Processing Agreement with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), ERL processes crude oil imported by BPC and delivers the finished petroleum products to the other subsidiaries of BPC for marketing and distribution. Read more: Govt approves Tk 462.99cr Karnaphuli Tunnel connectivity project

The interim government of Bangladesh on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) approved a road connectivity project aimed at improving access between the much-talked-about  Karnaphuli Tunnel (Anwara end) and the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway at Gachhbari is set to be implemented, with the government allocating Tk 462.99 crore entirely from its own funds. The project, titled ‘Development of the Connecting Road from Karnaphuli Tunnel (Anwara) to Gachhbari of Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway’, will be undertaken by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division. The implementation period has been fixed from October 2025 to December 2028. The approval came from the ECNEC meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, held at the NEC Conference Room of the Planning Ministry. Read more: Tk 2105 cr housing projects for July martyrs’ families, injured get govt nod Covering a total length of 21.08 kilometres, the project will be implemented in Anwara and Chandanaish upazilas of Chattogram district. Its primary objective is to upgrade the existing connecting road to appropriate standards and width to ensure uninterrupted, faster and safer road communication, reduce traffic congestion in Anwara and Chandanaish upazila towns, and develop an integrated, sustainable and cost-effective road transport network. According to the project profile, key activities include land acquisition, widening of road embankments, widening and strengthening of existing pavement, construction of new pavement with a width of 10.30 metres, surfacing works with DBS base and wearing course, construction of rigid RCC pavement, building of 18 RCC box culverts and three PC/RCC girder bridges, construction of RCC drain-cum-footpaths and retaining walls, and relocation of utilities. Anwara upazila holds significant geographical and economic importance, bordered by Patiya to the north, Banshkhali to the south, Chandanaish to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west. The road serves as a vital transport corridor for access to KAFCO, the Korean EPZ, Parki Sea Beach, the Marine Academy, the shrine of Hazrat Shah Mohsen Aulia (RA), CUFL and several industrial establishments. Due to heavy traffic, congestion and road accidents have become common in the area. Under the proposed project, the road from Gachhbari to Joykali Bazar will be widened over 16.48 kilometres from the existing 5.5-metre width, while a new 2.50-kilometre road will be constructed from Syed Kuchiar Mor to Sholokata. Read more: ECNEC clears 17 projects with Tk 15,383 cr Another 2.10 kilometres from Sholokata to Kalabibir Dighi Mor (R-170) will also be widened. The entire corridor will be upgraded to national highway standards with a width of 10.30 metres. The road connects Kalabibir Dighi Mor of N-115 road (R-170) to Gachhbari (Z-1040), linking with the N-1 national highway after 21.08 kilometres. At present, vehicles travelling from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar via the Karnaphuli Tunnel must pass through a 39-kilometre route via Patiya–Anwara Y-junction–Shantirhat–Patiya Bypass–Gachhbari. Once the project is completed, the distance from the Karnaphuli Tunnel to Gachhbari via Anwara will be reduced by around 18 kilometres, saving an estimated 35 minutes of travel time. Officials said the project was first proposed in July 2023 with an estimated cost of Tk 495.76 crore and an implementation period up to June 2026. Following several rounds of review by the Planning Commission and Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), the Development Project Proposal (DPP) was revised multiple times to rationalise costs and timelines. The latest revised DPP proposes a reduced cost of Tk 462.99 crore, with an extended implementation period of one year and six months. The Planning Commission, in its recommendation, said the project would establish a modern, safe and efficient road connection between the Karnaphuli Tunnel and the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar National Highway. This, it noted, would facilitate smoother movement of passenger and freight vehicles, enhance the utilisation of the Karnaphuli Tunnel, and significantly improve connectivity between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar. Read more: Sylhet Osmani Int’l Airport expansion project rises by Tk 470 crore  The Karnaphuli Tunnel is a landmark infrastructure project and the first underwater road tunnel in South Asia. Located in the port city of Chattogram, Bangladesh, the tunnel runs beneath the Karnaphuli River to connect the city's east and west banks, essentially implementing a "One City, Two Towns" model. The entire route measures 9.39 kilometers, with the main tunnel segment spanning 3.32 kilometers, featuring dual two-lane tubes. It was constructed using a slurry shield tunneling method by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The project, part of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, cost around $1.1 billion, with partial financing from the Exim Bank of China. The primary objective of the tunnel is to revolutionize transportation dynamics in the region. It is expected to significantly reduce travel time and alleviate traffic congestion on existing bridges, particularly easing the journey between Chattogram and the tourist hub of Cox's Bazar from four hours to potentially two. It also provides a vital link to the Chattogram Port, Matarbari Deep Seaport, and the proposed industrial zones in the Anwara Upazila, fostering trade and investment. Read more: Endless delay pushes Barui Para Bridge cost to Tk 136cr; frustration grows However, the project has faced some initial challenges. Since its opening in October 2023, the tunnel has experienced lower-than-projected daily vehicle usage, leading to significant financial losses due to high maintenance costs and high tolls compared to nearby alternatives.

The government on Monday (December 01) approved two major housing projects involving over Tk 2100 crore aimed at rehabilitating families of July martyrs and the injured protesters. The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference room in Dhaka. Under the two project, s 804 flats will be constructed at Mirpur Section-14 for martyred families at an estimated cost of Tk 761.16 crore and 1,560 flats at Mirpur Section-9 for injured protesters involving Tk 1,344.41 crore. Six 14-storey buildings with common basements and twelve 10-storey buildings will be constructed at Mirpur section 14 between January 2026 and December 2029. Read more: Don’t exploit July-August uprising for political gain: Salahuddin The project was initially reviewed by ECNEC on July 27, 2025. Besides, 1,560 flats for families of July movement participants who became permanently disabled will be built between  July 2025 to June 2029. The project will comprise 15 buildings each 14 storeys including a basement. After the ECNEC meeting Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters that the two projects were placed on separate implementation timelines based on the nature of support required by the affected families. He said the construction of 1,560 residential flats in Mirpur Section-9 for families of July warriors who lost their ability to work during the 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will commence in July 2025 and continue until June 2029. Read more: July Memorial set on fire in Manikganj He noted that the second scheme—construction of the “36 July” residential complex in Mirpur Section-14 for the families of those killed during the movement will run from January 2026 to December 2029. Dr Mahmud pointed out that extending support to families of those permanently disabled is comparatively straightforward as eligibility is clear and can be verified directly. Under existing laws, he said, determining the rightful recipient of such benefits—whether the spouse, parents, or other heirs—may require judicial clarity or internal agreement within families. He added that the government would follow the established policy framework, already documented and approved, to ensure fairness and legal consistency while allocating the flats. Where necessary, courts may provide final determinations, while in other cases families may resolve inheritance matters themselves before allocations proceed. “The policy under which such support is provided is already recorded, and allocations will be made accordingly,” he told reporters. Read more: ECNEC clears 17 projects with Tk 15,383 cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Monday approved 17 development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 15,383.51 crore. Of the total outlay, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from the government’s own resources, Tk 5,609.70 crore as project loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission with Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Prof  Muhammad Yunus in the chair. The two projects under the Ministry of Agriculture are the “Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Chattogram Region” project and the second revised “Quality Seed Potato Production, Preservation and Strengthened Distribution to Farmers” project. The Power and Energy Ministry got approval for two projects-  the drilling of three exploration wells (Srikail Deep-1, Mobarakpur Deep-1 and Fenchuganj South-1), and the construction of the 220-MW Sonagazi Solar Power Plant. Three projects under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works include the construction of 1,560 residential flats in Mirpur-9 for families of  July activists who lost work capacity, the construction of the ‘36 July’ residential flats for families of  July martyrs, and the modernisation of electrical, mechanical and fire-safety equipment at Bangladesh Secretariat, Transport Pool, Ministers’ Apartments and secretary residences. The Ministry of Bridges received approval for the third revised “Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-6)” and the development of the Sirajganj–Raiganj (Chandaikona) district highway to appropriate standards and width. The meeting also approved the “Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project (NGRUDP)” under the Local Government Division, and a revised project under the Social Welfare Ministry titled “Autism and NDD Services Centre (2nd Revised).” The Finance Ministry secured approval for the “Japan Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) Project (2nd Phase),” while the ICT Division received clearance for the first revised “Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development” project. Under the Education Ministry, the “Completion of Construction of the Third Academic and Central Research Building (10-storey foundation, 10 floors) and Other Structures at Noakhali Science and Technology University” was approved. Three more projects under the Health and Family Welfare Ministry were endorsed: “Climate Responsive Reproductive Health and Population Services Improvement and System Strengthening for Results,” the first revised “Establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Centre, Munshiganj,” and the project covering essential operational activities of the Directorate General of Health Services, Directorate General of Drug Administration and the Community Clinic Health Support Trust. During the meeting, ECNEC members were also briefed on 15 small-scale projects  each costing less than Tk 50 crore which had earlier been approved by the Planning Adviser. These projects include the modernisation of Bangladesh Betar Chattogram Centre, infrastructure development in several district stadiums, the third revised IMPACT–Phase 3 project for poverty alleviation, upgrades to academic institutions, cultural centres, fisheries development initiatives, rural infrastructure improvement in Gazipur, biodiversity enhancement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, drainage system improvement in Chapainawabganj, and the second revised infrastructure development scheme for Dinajpur Municipality.