The government approved on Tuesday the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) project at a cost of Tk 38.25 billion.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) endorsed the purchase of EVMs at its meeting held at the Planning Commission (PC) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The Election Commission (EC) will purchase 150,000 EVMs under the project aimed at using those in the next elections.
According to the proposed Tk 38.25 billion EVM project, the EC will complete the purchase of these voting machines and all necessary works by June 2023.
It plans to buy 150,000 EVMs under the scheme over a period of five years.
Emerging from the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the EVM project undertaken by the EC will be implemented in three phases.
He said the ECNEC meeting endorsed a total of 14 development projects, involving Tk 125.45 billion.
Of the total amount, the lion's share (Tk 88.42 billion) will come from internal sources while Tk 34.45 billion from external sources as project aid and remaining Tk 2.57 billion from implementing agencies' own fund.
The planning minister at the briefing said the prime minister suggested that the authorities concerned use the EVMs gradually in the upcoming elections.
Besides, the ECNEC approved the construction of railway line between Chilahati and Chilahati border project at a cost of Tk 800 million aiming to establish railway link with India.
Officials said Bangladesh and India would revamp the Chilahati-Haldibari rail connectivity after nearly five decades which would open the scope for trains to travel to Shiliguri and Darjeeling in India.
The other projects approved by the ECNEC are: BEPZA Economic Zone, Mirsarai-1st phase at Tk 7.50 billion, Establishment of Sheikh Hasina Tantpalli (1st phase) at Tk 2.53 billion; upgrading Hathazari-Raojan part of Chattogram-Rangamati National Highway into 4-lane at Tk 5.28 billion, Widening and Strengthening Jamalpur-Madarganj Road (3rd revised) project at Tk 1.28 billion, Infrastructure Construction and Development of Narayanganj City Corporation project at Tk 4.61 billion; and Establishment of Agricultural Research Centre of BARI at Gopalganj district and Development of Agriculture Strengthening Environment-Ecology-Befitting Research Activities in the country's southwestern region project at Tk 1.57 billion.
The Barishal-Patuakhali-Bhola-Jhalakathi-Barguna-Madaripur and Shariatpur Agriculture Development project at Tk 1.12 billion; Gopalganj-Khulna-Bagerhat-Satkhira-Pirojpur Agriculture Development project at Tk 826.5 million; Establishment of BCS Economic Academy project (2nd revised) at Tk 2.58 billion; Relocation of Bangladesh Betar from Shahbagh Complex to Agargaon, its construction and modernisation (1st phase) project at Tk 1.13 billion; Improvement of drainage system to remove water-logging in Khulna City project at Tk 8.24 billion; and Programme for supporting rural bridges project at Tk 49.71 billion were also endorsed at the ECNEC meeting.
Ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries of the ministries concerned were present at the meeting.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
