RHD fails to clear ECNEC hurdle

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday rejected the Roads and Highways Department's (RHD) proposals to construct two rest-houses at a cost of some Tk 70 million, considering those unnecessary spending of public money.

Quoting the PM, Planning Minister M A Mannan said she also asked the RHD not to build the rest-houses beside roads, as those are immaterial at present amid the country's better transportation system.

"The honourable PM also asked the RHD to prepare a separate project for the rest-houses, if required, rather than incorporating those with any road reconstruction project," Mr Mannan told reporters after a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on the day.

The Planning Commission (PC), in the ECNEC meeting - presided over by Sheikh Hasina, placed the RHD's two road widening projects for getting approval, where the state-owned road developer proposed to construct two rest-houses.

According to the minister, the RHD proposed to construct a rest-house at a cost of Tk 27.9 million under the "Baroiarhat-Heiako-Ramgarh road widening project" and another rest house at a cost of Tk 40 million under the "Construction of concrete bridge under replacing the older ones under the Khulna road zone project."

The RHD incorporated construction of those rest-houses with both the development projects as project components, which were placed before the ECNEC for approval on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Planning Minister defended the 5.24 per cent GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth of the country for the last fiscal year (FY), 2019-20, saying the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) is a trusted organisation.

When asked about a local think-tank's reservation on the GDP growth amid the COVID pandemic, Mr Mannan said he does not want to quarrel with them, rather welcomes criticism.

"They are research organisation. They should do more research works, which will ultimately be helpful for us. We will read their works, study their works."

"The BBS's data is a provisional one. We hope the statistics on GDP will be a quality one, when it will be finalised," the planning minister added.

Meanwhile, the ECNEC meeting on Tuesday approved six fresh projects and revised one ongoing project at a total cost of Tk 34.62 billion.

Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk 26.20 billion from its internal resources, while the remaining Tk 8.42 billion will come from external sources as project aid, Mr Mannan told reporters.

Among the projects, the ECNEC approved the 'Widening of the Baroiarhat-Heyako-Ramgarh Road Project' at a cost of Tk 8.45 billion in a bid to boost foreign trade with neighbouring India.

The minister said the RHD will implement the road widening project in Ramgarh upazila under Khagrachhari by June 2022.

Of the total project cost, Tk 5.81 billion will come from the Indian Line of Credit, and the rest Tk 2.64 from the government's internal resources, he added.

He also informed that a proposal for setting up a border haat (market) in Ramgarh is also under active consideration.

It also approved the 'Widening of Doudkandi-Goalmari-Srirayerchar (Cumilla)-Matlab Uttar (Chhengarchar) road project' at a cost of Tk 5.24 billion, the 'Construction of concrete bridge under replacing the older ones under the Khulna road zone project' at Tk 5.26 billion, the 'Tentulia River erosion protection from the Dhulia Launchghat under Baufol upazila of Patukhali to Dharmapasha of Barisal area' at Tk 7.12 billion.

Besides, the 'Removing of water-logging by the Kapatakkha River project' at Tk 5.31 billion cost, and the 'Fishing of tuna and pelagic fishes at the sea pilot project' at Tk 610.6 million cost were also approved in the ECNEC meeting.

The ECNEC revised the 'Emergency multi-sector Rohingya crisis response project', increasing its cost by Tk 2.61 billion to Tk 5.99 billion.

The ministers, the PC members and the secretaries concerned were present in the meeting.

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