The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved seven projects involving Tk8.86bn.
The approval was given at an Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Of the projects, a project titled “Upazilla level optical fiber cable network development project” costing Tk4.99bn was approved to expand the ICT services to upazila level.
Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam said the optical fiber cable project would cover 290 upazilas across the country.
The remaining 179 upazilas are already under optical fiber connection by BTCL and other projects.
Due to their backward geographical locations, Bhola sadar, Sandwip, Hatia, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Baghaichhari, Langdu, Jurachhari, Belaichari, Barkal, as well as Mehendiganj, Muladi and Hizla upazilla of Barisal district will remain out of the project.
Emphasising the importance of the project, the Planning Commission has advised the concerned ministry to convert it into a mega project and continue its effort to have foreign funding for the project.
The Ecnec approved another project titled ‘Procurement of equipment for search and rescue operation for earthquake and other disaster project’ (Tk1.59bn) to be implemented for the period of July 2013 to June 2015.
Under the project, modern equipment would be procured to tackle disasters including earthquake to make the rescue operations smoother.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: Agricultural equipment technology development and expansion project (Tk 400m), beef cattle development project (Tk260m), river bank protection of the vulnerable area of Lalmohon Upazils of Bhola district (Tk1.03bn), applied research project on rural livelihood through surface water irrigation by using RDA technology (Tk280m) and integrated plan for extension and development of sericulture in Bangladesh (Tk310m).
ECNEC members including Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister AK Khondker, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, concerned ministers, advisers to the prime minister, members of Planning Commission, secretaries and officials concerned were present at the meeting.
