Ecnec rejects Tk1,268.80 crore project in haor over environmental risks

A Tk1,268.80 crore project titled Climate-Resilient Livelihood Improvement in Haor Areas was not approved at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) today, due to concerns over environmental risks in the haor region.

Under the proposed project, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) planned to build 141 km of rural roads in the haor areas of Sylhet and Mymensingh and 193 km in the Barendra region, along with other infrastructure developments.

It also included the development of 58 rural markets, construction of 72 temporary grain storage and shelter kilas, 72 km of internal walkways, 480 toilets, 720 tube wells, and 280 village protection structures in the haor areas.

The project was to be financed with Tk305 crore from the government, Tk854 crore in loans from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad), and Tk109.80 crore in grants from Denmark's development agency, Danida.

Planning Commission officials said the project was placed for approval at today's Ecnec meeting. However, Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan objected to the project, citing the potential environmental damage and risks of road construction in haor areas. Ecnec subsequently returned the proposal without approval.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, was held at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Ecnec approved a total of 13 projects involving Tk19,888 crore at the meeting. Of them, three are new projects, three had their timelines extended without cost revision, and seven were approved as revised proposals.

According to Planning Commission sources, Ecnec approved an Tk852 crore project to significantly enhance the capacity for quality testing of locally produced and imported goods. The project, to be implemented by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), aims to modernise and expand laboratory facilities for chemical, food, textile, electrical and material products.

The project is scheduled for completion by June 2028. It includes expansion and modernisation of laboratories and construction of a 13-storey building (12,519 sq m including basement) at BSTI headquarters in Tejgaon.

Under the project, 20 new chemical testing labs will be established and 18 existing labs modernised. Another 15 new labs will be built and 14 existing ones expanded, while 781 modern testing instruments will be procured – 541 for chemical tests and 240 for material tests. Additionally, 258 types of chemicals and reference materials, 135 types of modules, and five system labs for ACs, refrigerators, transformers, LED lamps and solar devices will be installed.

BSTI said once implemented, testing capacity for chemical and food products will rise by 63 percent, and for materials, electrical, and textile products by 50 percent. Currently, BSTI issues about 20,000 test reports annually, which could rise to around 32,000 with the new facilities.

At present, 299 products are on BSTI's mandatory testing list, with another 79 products set to be added under the commerce ministry's import policy.

Other projects approved at the Ecnec meeting include PRO-ACT Bangladesh – Resilience Strengthening through Agri-Food Systems Transformation in Cox's Bazar; Sustainable Improvement of Rural Earthen Roads through Herring Bone Bonding (HBB) – Phase 2 (3rd Revision); Khulna Division Rural Infrastructure Development Project (3rd Revision); Renovation and Cultural Centre Development of Jamalpur City (3rd Revision); Internal Roads, Drains and Footpaths Construction in Gazipur City Corporation Zones 1–5 (3rd Revision); Uttara Lake Development (1st Revision); Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Building in Canberra, Australia; Upgrading Kishoreganj (Binnati)–Pakundia–Mirzapur Tok District Highway to Proper Standard (1st Revision);
– Ghorashal 3rd Unit Repowering (2nd Revision); Upgrading Pabna Mental Hospital to an International-Standard Mental Health Institute and Hospital; Rehabilitation and Quality Improvement of Level Crossing Gates in Bangladesh Railway West Zone (4th Revision); and Rehabilitation and Quality Improvement of Level Crossing Gates in Bangladesh Railway East Zone (5th Revision).