Ecnec approves eight projects, including expansion of children's hospital
Aimed at further strengthening child healthcare services, the project will be implemented from July 2026 to June 2028.
The government has approved a project to expand the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in Dhaka. The project, titled "Expansion of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute (Phase-2)", was approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at a cost of Tk344 crore.
The Ecnec meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was held at the Secretariat today (9 June). The project is scheduled for completion by 2028.
According to the project proposal submitted by the implementing agency, the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, the main objective is to ensure improved and specialised healthcare services for children through expanded infrastructure and the introduction of advanced medical facilities.
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Officials said that under the project, the hospital's existing C Block will be vertically expanded from the fourth floor to the ninth floor, covering an area of 4,461.17 square metres. The expansion will add 100 new beds and six cabins. Five modern operating theatres will also be constructed.
To expand specialised healthcare services, new departments for paediatric urology and kidney transplantation, paediatric surgical oncology, and paediatric orthopaedic surgery will be established. In addition, the paediatric cardiology department will be upgraded with a full range of facilities, including a catheterisation laboratory (cath lab), ICU, cardiac beds, operating theatres and post-operative wards.
The project also includes the procurement of 1,398 pieces of modern medical equipment, 1,703 items of furniture and 36 software packages for hospital automation.
The total project cost has been estimated at Tk344.0159 crore. Of this, Tk62.99 crore will be spent on building construction, Tk253.11 crore on equipment procurement and Tk27.91 crore on other expenses.
Including this project, Ecnec approved a total of eight projects involving Tk2,266.41 crore.
Of the total cost, Tk2,229 crore will come from government funding, while Tk37.28 crore will be financed by the implementing agencies' own funds.
Among the approved projects, three are new projects, three are revised projects and two are projects receiving extensions of their implementation periods.
The projects approved at the meeting include "Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the Barishal Irrigation Project (Phase-1)" under the water resources ministry; "Upgrading the Anwara–Banshkhali–Toitong–Pekua–Badarkhali–Chakaria (Eidmoni) Regional Highway (R-170) from Kalabibir Dighi to Eidmoni to proper standards and width" under the road transport and bridges ministry; "Installation of lifts at circuit houses and deputy commissioners' offices in 33 districts, including Thakurgaon" under the public administration ministry; "Construction of a Cancer Centre at Dhaka CMH (Phase-2), First Revised" under the defence ministry.
Ecnec also approved "Madrasa Education Management and Information System (MEMIS) Support, Third Revised" under the education ministry, "Installation of Multimedia Classrooms in 653 Madrasas, Third Revised" under the education ministry, "Capacity Enhancement of Existing Grid Substations and Transmission Lines, First Revised" under the power, energy and mineral resources ministry and "Expansion of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute (Phase-2)".
