The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday suspended a Tk236 crore project of Teletalk on commercial introduction of 5G services in the capital as a part of the government's austerity measures amid the global crisis.
But the Ecnec approved seven other development projects with an estimated cost of Tk2,007.57 crore (only additional costs of the three revised projects were counted here).
The approval came from the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room.
Prime Minister and Ecnec chair Sheikh Hasina joining the meeting through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.
"Today's meeting approved seven projects, but postponed a fresh project of Teletalk," said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters.
He said the Teletalk project was postponed as it would cost dollars from the country's reserve of foreign currencies but it is so much essential right now.
The minister said the project was not cancelled. It will be implemented later, he added.
The new project titled: " Commercial Introduction of 5G technology in the Teletalk Network in Dhaka Metropolitan area" involving Tk236.54 crore was designed to be implemented by December 2023.
The main objectives of the project include introducing 5G technology commercially, raising interest among the people over 5G technology, and encouraging other mobile phone operators to introduce 5G services.
The largest project among four fresh ones approved in the meeting is "Land Acquisition, providing compensation to the victims and their rehabilitation in order to establish the divisional headquarters for Mymensigh Division Project" with the cost of Tk1,224.81 crore.
Three other new projects are "Strengthening research activities of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)" with the estimated cost of Tk164.01 crore; "Procurement of Equipment and Machineries from Belarus for Selected Municipalities and City Corporations" with Tk150.62 crore; and "Extension and Modernisation of Dhaka Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre" with Tk162.34 crore.
The three revised projects are Rehabilitation of 67A, 67, 67B and 68 polders along the Naf River in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas to improve the border security on Bangladesh- Myanmar Border (first revised) project" with additional cost of Tk227.02 crore (Now the cost raised to Tk368.67 crore); Uttara Lake Development (1st revised) Project with additional cost of Tk53.41 crore (now cost is Tk90.74); and Jail Training Centre, Rajshahi (1st revised) project with additional cost of Tk25.36 crore (now cost is Tk98.78.crore).
