ECNEC approves 5 projects including Chinese economic zone

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved five development projects with a total cost of 73.36 billion taka. The approved projects include infrastructure development of Chinese economic and industrial zones, three water resources development projects related to Feni, Karatoya and Padma rivers, and the third amendment to the project to establish one technical school and college in each of 100 upazilas.

The Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman approved these projects at the ECNEC meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday (June 16). The total cost of the projects approved in the meeting is estimated at 73.36 billion taka. Of this, the government's own financing is 45.36 billion taka and foreign loans are 24.67 billion taka. Out of the five approved projects, three are new and two are revised projects.

The Prime Minister's Office's 'Supporting Infrastructure Construction Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zones' is one of the approved projects. Besides, the rehabilitation of Muhuri-Kahua flood control, drainage and irrigation project in Feni district (first phase), Karatoya River System Development Project and protection of Komarkandi area of ​​Talbaria and Shilaidah unions of Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia district from erosion of Padma river (first revised) under the Ministry of Water Resources have been approved. At the same time, the establishment of one technical school and college in each of 100 upazilas (third revised) project of the Ministry of Education has also been approved.

It was further informed in the meeting that four projects with a cost of less than Tk 50 crore have already been approved through the Planning Minister. These are the Air Force Barracks Complex Construction Project at Bangladesh Air Force Base Cox's Bazar, the Navy School and College, Savar Establishment Project, the Physical Infrastructure Construction Project to Improve the Quality of Education and Increase Teaching Capacity of the Existing BAF Shaheen College at Bangladesh Air Force Station Shamshernagar, and the Pagoda-Based Pre-Primary and Cryptologic Education Program (Phase IV) Project.

The meeting was attended by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, Industries, Textiles and Jute and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, State Minister for Public Administration and Food Md. Abdul Bari, State Minister for Planning Md. Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki and other senior government officials were present.