The government on Monday approved two separate projects worth Tk 21.06 billion to construct 2,364 residential flats for injured protesters who can no longer work and for the families of those killed during last year's anti-discrimination student movement.
"The housing projects are among 17 development projects approved at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC auditorium, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus," Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters at a briefing after the meeting.
The approved projects -- including revisions to five ongoing schemes -- will require fresh investment of Tk 153.84 billion. Of this, Tk 94.52 billion will come from the government, said the planning adviser.
"Another Tk 56.10 billion is expected from external lenders and development partners as loans and grants, while the remaining Tk 3.79 billion will be financed by the implementing agencies," he added.
The adviser said the interim government has embarked on a series of major reforms, noting that many stakeholders have yet to fully grasp the implications of recently issued ordinances. "Long-pending reforms across several ministries have finally been set in motion."
Dr Wahiduddin said the next elected government may find it challenging to absorb such an ambitious reform agenda, but expressed hope that most measures would still be retained.
The meeting also approved the third revision of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Project (Line-6), which aims to build a metro rail from Uttara to Kamalapur. The project's implementation period has been extended by three years to December 2028.
The project's revised cost has been set at Tk 327.18 billion -- a 2.25 per cent reduction from the previous estimate of Tk 334.72 billion. "We reviewed the project costs and negotiated with contractors, which enabled savings of Tk 7.54 billion," the adviser said, while questioning the need for such a long extension of the project tenure.
The revision shows that components worth more than Tk 15.0 billion -- including the construction of four station plazas and related land acquisition -- have been dropped. Planning Commission officials said savings from these non-revenue-generating components were largely offset by higher consultancy costs, major coach overhauls, and interest accrued during construction.
ECNEC also approved two separate projects worth Tk 70.50 billion -- one to continue essential operations of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Directorate General of Drug Administration, and the Community Clinic Health Support Trust; and another to implement the Reproductive Health and Population Services initiative through 2029.
The World Bank will provide Tk 12.99 billion for the "Climate-Responsive Reproductive Health and Population Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project for Results", approved at an estimated cost of Tk 40.62 billion.
The project titled "Essential Operations of DGHS, Drug Administration and Community Clinic Health Support Trust" has been approved at a cost of Tk 29.88 billion and will be fully financed by the government.
ECNEC also approved the first revision of the "Establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Centre" in Munshiganj, with a revised cost of Tk 34.0 billion -- an 11.32 per cent increase from the initial estimate of Tk 30.15 billion. The project was originally approved to develop a vaccine plant in the Gopalganj area, but relocation has added Tk 3.85 billion to the cost.
However, the meeting rejected a proposed mega project titled "Health and Nutrition Services Improvement and System Strengthening", citing excessive costs for several components, including computers priced at around Tk 0.7 million each.
The project, estimated at Tk 130.23 billion, was expected to receive Tk 61.96 billion in foreign assistance. Dr Wahiduddin said most of the project cost was intended for buildings, instruments, foreign consultants, and travel expenses.
Towards the final stage of review, it was found that some components included unusually high and speculative costs. "The Ministry submitted the project so hastily to secure foreign assistance that proper verification was not possible. Submitting a project in such a rush, without adequate review, is not appropriate," he said.
ECNEC also approved two projects under the Ministry of Agriculture, including the Sustainable Agricultural Development Project in Chattogram and the second revised "High-Quality Seed Potato Production, Preservation and Distribution Enhancement Project".
Under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, approval was given for three exploration wells and a 220-megawatt solar power plant in Sonagazi.
Alongside the two projects for injured protesters and families of those killed during last year's movement, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works also secured approval for a project to modernise fire safety at the Secretariat, Transportation Pool, Ministers' Apartments, and the Secretary's Residence.
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