The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved 24 projects, including one to set up 23 polytechnic institutes in different districts across the country.
The projects were approved at the weekly Ecnec meeting, held at the NEC conference room in Dhaka. Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in chair.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said: "Twenty-four projects were approved today, involving an overall cost of Tk24,740.66 crore."
Of the total estimated cost, he said Tk19,361.96 crore will come from the national exchequer, while Tk5,072.66 crore will be provided as project assistance, and Tk306.04 crore will come from the funds of the organizations concerned.
Nineteen of the projects are new, while five have been revised.
The planning minister said the Technical and Madrasa Education Division will implement the "Establishment of Polytechnic Institutes in 23 Districts Project" by June 2021, at an estimated cost of Tk3,691.30 crore.
He added that the polytechnic institutes will be set up in the 23 districts where state-owned polytechnic institutes are yet to be developed.
Mustafa Kamal further said there are currently 49 polytechnic institutes, including four exclusively for women, across the country.
In addition, Ecnec cleared a multi-sector project to face the Rohingya crisis on an emergency basis, at an estimated cost of Tk1,057.84 crore.
The major part of the project’s financing will be provided as foreign assistance from the World Bank (Tk1048.28 crore) , while the rest of the money, amounting to Tk9.56 crore, will come from the national exchequer. The project will be implemented by November 2021.
The main activities under the project include the setting up of 23 new cyclone shelter centres, 30 multipurpose community service centres, development of 203.50-kilometres of roads, strengthening and widening 17.15 kilometres of roads, and construction of a number of footpaths, drains, bridges and culverts.
The other 22 projects approved at the meeting include:
• Construction of a dual gauge rail line from Bagura to Shaheed M Monsur Ali Station, Sirajganj at an estimated cost of Tk5,579.70 crore
• Construction of new rail line from Iswardi to Pabna (second revised) at Tk1,737.18 crore
• Construction of internal roads, drains and footpaths in zones 1-5 of Gazipur City Corporation at a cost of Tk1,510 crore;
• Development of telecommunication and ICT infrastructure, human resources and technical capacity of the DGFI for Tk1,272.29 crore
• Widening of the Madani Avenue-Balu River Road (Major Road-5) and construction of the Balu River-Shitalakkhya River Road (Major Road-5) (Ist Phase) for Tk1,259.89 crore
• Construction of a new 20-storey office at Bangladesh Secretariat for Tk420.98 crore
• Construction of the third Karnaphuli Bridge (III phase) for Tk797.94 crore;
• Construction of a link road from Rajuk Purbachal 300 feet of highway to Madani avenue-Sylhet highway for Tk456.72 crore;
• Development and extension of physical infrastructure of the Bangladesh Post Office for Tk479.86 crore;
• Protection and development of graveyards of martyred freedom fighters and other war heroes (first phase) for Tk460.98 crore;
• Construction of nine residential complexes for Bangladesh Police in different areas of Bangladesh for Tk927.35 crore; and
• A National Academy for Autism and Neurodevelopment Disabilities (NAAND) (second revised) for Tk422.34 crore.
• Establishment of a permanent campus for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University at a cost of Tk1,183.97 crore;
• Construction of Bangabandhu Military Museum (first revised) for Tk655.76 crore;
• Establishment of nine government secondary schools for Tk435 crore;
• Construction of BNA Bangabandhu Complex, Patenga, Chittagong for Tk358.53 crore;
• Smallholder agricultural competitiveness (SACP) for Tk780.33 crore;
• Strengthening activities of the agriculture training institutes at a cost of Tk117.57 crore;
• BSCIC Chemical Palli, Dhaka for Tk 201.81 crore;
• Strengthening and modernizing Gazi Wires Ltd for Tk68.98 crore;
• Construction and Development of damaged roads, drains and footpaths in different areas of Dhaka North City Corporation for Tk694.41 crore;
• Conducting a feasibility study for a 500-600 megawatt LNG based combined cycle power plant and construction of a gas supply line for Tk169.93 crore.
