Ecnec nods 12 projects worth Tk7,150cr; focus on rural infrastructure, education

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) today (10 November) approved 12 development projects totalling Tk7,150.21 crore, with the entire financing slated to come from the government's resources.

The approval came during the 5th Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year (FY26), held at the NEC Conference Room on the Planning Commission premises.

Chief Adviser and Ecnec Chairperson Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting. Among the projects, eight are new, two are revised, and two received time extensions without any cost escalation.

Notably, the "Land Registration Management Automation" project under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs was not approved and was sent back for review.

The 12 projects approved in the meeting are:

Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (Rural Development & Cooperatives Division) - 2 projects:

1. "Important Rural Infrastructure Development in Manikganj District" with Tk450 crore.

2. "Rural Infrastructure Development in Satkhira District" with Tk1,930 crore.

Ministry of Agriculture - 1 project:

3. "Improvement of Minor Irrigation System in Haor Areas of Kishoreganj and Netrokona Districts" with Tk164.94 crore.

Ministry of Education - 2 projects:

4. "Infrastructure Development of Gazipur Agricultural University" with Tk567.29 crore.

5. "Establishment of One Engineering College in Each of Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions (2nd revised)" with an additional cost of Tk394.84 crore.

Ministry of Liberation War Affairs - 1 project:

6. "Construction of Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka (Phase 3) (1st revised)".

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - 3 projects:

7. "Implementation of the Remaining Activities of Essential Family Planning, Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health Services Under the Completed 4th Sector Programme", 1st revised.

8. "Integrated Development for Operational Management of the Directorate of Health Education, NIPORT and Directorate of Nursing & Midwifery" with Tk211.90 crore.

9. "Implementation of Essential Remaining Activities of PFD, HEF, IFM, HRD and SWPMM" with Tk1,546.45 crore.

Ministry of Defence - 1 project:

10. "Construction of 'B'-Type Officers' Residential Buildings at Nirjhor Residential Area, Dhaka Cantonment" with Tk177.80 crore.

Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges - 1 project:

11. "4th Time Extension (2nd revised) for Construction of Kalia Bridge over Nabaganga River at the 21st Kilometre of Narail-Kalia District Highway"

Ministry of Industries - 1 project:

12. "BSCIC Industrial Park, Tangail (3rd revised)" with an additional cost of Tk39.43 crore.

The meeting was also informed about nine projects earlier approved by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed; Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs and Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul; Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury; Industries and Housing & Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan; Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, Road Transport & Bridges, and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan; Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan; Health & Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum; Disaster Management & Relief and Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq E Azam, Bir Pratik and Education Adviser CR Abrar, among others, attended the meeting while other senior officials were present.