ECNEC endorses 21 projects

The government has again adopted an aggressive stance to approve projects, as it endorsed a record number of development schemes on Tuesday.
At a meeting, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved 21 development projects involving Tk 197.79 billion, including the land acquisition project for the expansion of Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting in the city.
Under the land acquisition project involving Tk 38.85 billion, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) will acquire some 400 acres of land by June 2020.
Emerging from the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said once the land acquisition is completed, the RHD will go for upgrading the Dhaka-Sylhet highway into four-lane one to facilitate the development of Asian Highway.
Of the total cost for the 21 projects, Tk 173.17 billion will come from internal sources, Tk 2.34 billion from the implementing agencies' own fund and the remaining Tk 22.27 billion from external sources as project assistance, he said.
Nineteen of the approved 21 projects are new ones while other two projects are revised ones.
The ECNEC approved a large project to procure 35 dredgers at a cost of Tk 44.89 billion to maintain navigability in 100 major rivers across the country.
Mustafa Kamal said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) would procure the dredgers along with ancillary equipment to dredge about 8,000 kilometres in 100 rivers.
According to the Ministry of Shipping, the BIWTA currently has 25 dredgers with an annual dredging capacity of 11.40 million cubic metre while 10 more dredgers are expected to join its fleet under an ongoing project.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister asked the authorities to set up a court in every jail considering the inconvenience of those inmates who are unable to go to courts due to their physical condition, Mr Kamal said.
The Prime Minister gave the directive when the ECNEC approved the Reconstruction of Cumilla Central Jail project involving Tk 6.25 billion, he added.
The ECNEC also approved the Second Urban Region Development project involving Tk 18.67 billion, Rehabilitation of damaged roads and development of footpaths and drains of Dhaka South City Corporation (Tk 7.74 billion), Urban development programme on climate change impact at Barishal City Corporation (Tk 1.30 billion), Strengthening Teletalk network coverage in remote areas through installing solar base station (Tk 4.06 billion), Upgrading
Keranihat-Bandarban National Highway (2.35 billion), Further development of Jahangirnagar University (Tk 14.45 billion), and Establishing seven regional offices of Bangladesh Public Service Commission Secretariat and strengthening its capacity (Tk 1.27 billion).
Other projects are Land acquisition and related works for establishing CPGCBL-Sumitomo 1200 MW ultra super critical coal-based power plant involving Tk 12.70 billion, Construction of roads and other related infrastructure for setting up Payra 1320 MW coal-based power plant (Tk 2.50 billion), Establishment of three handloom service centres (2nd Revised) (Tk 888 million), Modernisation and infrastructural extension of Bangladesh Handloom Education Training Institute, Narsingdi, (Tk 601.5 million), Greater Mymensingh Rural Infrastructure Development (2nd Revised) (Tk 6.90 billion), River Garai dredging and embankment protection (Tk 5.91 billion), Char Bagadi pump house and Hajimara regulator rehabilitation under Chandpur irrigation project (Tk1.17 billion), Rangpur Division agriculture and rural development (Tk 3.21 billion), Buffalo development (2nd phase) (Tk 1.63 billion), Emergency support on water supply and sanitation in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas in Cox's Bazar (Tk 5.85 billion) and Further development of Cumilla University (Tk 16.55 billion).
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