The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday suspended a Tk 236-crore project of Teletalk on commercial introduction of 5-G services in the capital as a part of the government's austerity measures amid the global crisis. But the Ecnec approved seven other development projects with the estimated cost of Tk 2,007.57 crore (only additional costs of the three revised projects were counted here). The approval came from the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room. Prime Minister and Ecnec chair Sheikh Hasina joining it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Also read: PM: BNP plundered national resources during its rule "Today's meeting approved seven projects, but postponed a fresh project of Teletalk," said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters. He said the Teletalk project was postponed as it would cost dollars from the country's reserve of foreign currencies but it is so much essential right now. The minister said the project was not cancelled. It will be implemented later, he added. The new project titled " Commercial Introduction of 5-G technology in the Teletalk Network in Dhaka Metropolitan area" involving Tk 236.54 crore was designed to implement by December 2023. The main objectives of the project include to introduce 5-G technology commercially, to raise interest among the people over 5-G technology, and encourage other mobile phone operators to introduce 5-G services. The largest project among four fresh ones approved in the meeting is "Land Acquisition, providing compensation to the victims and their rehabilitation in order to establish the divisional headquarters for Mymensigh Division Project" with the cost of Tk 1,224.81 crore. Also read: PM urges the youth to acquire skills to become entrepreneurs Three other new projects are "Strengthening research activities of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)" with the estimated cost of Tk 164.01 crore; "Procurement of Equipment and Machineries from Belarus for Selected Municipalities and City Corporations" with Tk 150.62 crore; and "Extension and Modernisation of Dhaka Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre" with Tk 162.34 crore. The three revised projects are Rehabilitation of 67A, 67, 67B and 68 polders along the Naf River in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas to improve the border security on Bangladesh- Myanmar Border (first revised) project" with additional cost of Tk 227.02 crore (Now the cost raised to Tk 368.67 crore); Uttara Lake Development (1st revised) Project with additional cost of Tk 53.41 crore (now cost is Tk 90.74); and Jail Training Centre, Rajshahi (1st revised) project with additional cost of Tk 25.36 crore (now cost is Tk 98.78.crore). 

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved  a project involving Tk 6,179 crore to enhance the electricity network in Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions. The approval came from the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room. Ecnec chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. The meeting approved six fresh projects and four revised ones. Read: Hi-Tech Park to turn Khulna industrial area into tech-based zone: Palak The total estimated cost of the 10 projects is Tk 10,885.60 crore (only additional costs of the revised ones were counted here), State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam told reporters after the meeting. Of the cost, Tk 5,142.55 crore will be borne from the government’s fund, while Tk 756.30 crore will come from the own funds of the organisations concerned and the rest Tk 4,956.75 as project loans from foreign sources, he said. In terms of cost, the three largest new projects are Modernization and Capacity Enhancement of BREB Network (Dhaka-Mymensingh Division) project with an estimated cost of Tk 6178.83, Establishment of Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) with Tk 1,867.08 crore, and Modernization of Power Distribution-Smart Grids Phase-I with Tk 1,067.24 crore. The rest three fresh projects are Upgradation of Gauripur-Anandaganj-Madhupur-Dewanganj Bazar-Hossainpur District Highway under Kishoreganj Road Division project with Tk 701.53 crore, Reconstruction of Dirai-Shalla section of Madanpur-Dirai-Shalla-Jalsukha-Ajmiriganj District Highway project with Tk 628.54 crore, and Temple-Based Children and Mass Education Program (Phase 6) with Tk 365 crore. Read: Opposition MPs come down hard on EC, police The four revised projects include Upgrading Sirajganj town part of Nalka-Sirajganj-Soydabad Regional Highway (from Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College to Wapda junction) into 4-lane one and Upgrading the remaining part into 2-lane one (1st revised) project with additional cost of Tk 63.04 crore (now its cost rose at Tk 327.30 crore), construction of the connecting road from Bogura town to medical college (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 79.72 crore (now the cost stands at Tk 184.71 crore). The other revised projects are “Construction of Goma Bridge on Rangamati River at 14t km of Barishal (Dinarerpool)-Lakshipasha-Dumki District Highway (1st revised)” with additional cost of Tk 34.82 crore (now the cost increased to Tk 92.45 crore) and Establishment of Fire Service and Civil Defense Stations at 25 important Upazila Sadar/ places of the country (3rd revised)” with reduction of 130.20 crore in the cost (now the cost declined to Tk 289.18 crore). Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin and Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury were, among others, present.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved four projects involving Tk 796 crore, including a Tk 338-crore scheme, to make mouza and plot-based national digital land zoning.