ECNEC approves 10 projects with Tk 4,246.72cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved 10 projects worth Tk 4,246.72 crore including one for building Chattogram Tax Building with Taka 437.07 crore.

The approval came from the 6th meeting of the ECNEC in this fiscal year and the 5th meeting of the interim government. The meeting was held today at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

ECNEC Chairperson and Chief Adviser Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said that out of the total project costs of Taka 4,246.72 crore, Taka 3,632.01 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh portion, Taka 205.79 crore as project assistance while Taka 408.92 crore from the concerned organization’s own fund.

Of the approved 10 projects, six are new while four are revised projects.

The Planning Adviser said that they are now processing and thus giving approval to the development projects in a quick manner although they had to scrutinize the projects after assumption of office by the interim government.

He informed that new projects are now being taken while the Planning Commission has also requested the authorities concerned to prioritize on local level projects.

Turning to the macroeconomic indicators, Dr Mahmud said that the export earnings are rising again while the pace of inward remittance has also got a momentum.

As a result, the Planning Adviser said that more fund is being mobilized at the local level while economic activities are also on the rising trend.

Besides, he noted that the inward remittances have also a direct and indirect impact as it energizes the economy.

Terming demographic dividend as a ‘window of opportunity’, Dr Mahmud said that Bangladesh might enjoy such facility in full scale over the next 10 to 15 years.

He also informed that the government may amend the Statistics Law which might allow the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to publish data of its own on the GDP, inflation, employment and wage rate with support from the concerned experts.

The other projects approved in today’s meeting are :Conservation dredging at Poshur Channel in Mongla Port with Taka 1,538.19 crore, Collection of Auxiliary Vessels for Mongla Port (1st Revised) with an additional cost of Taka 169.31 crore, Establishment of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System & Integrated Maritime Navigation System (EGIMNS)”, 4th revised with an additional cost of Taka 113.85 crore, Strengthening Sustainable Nutrition Security through Pulse and Oilseed Production with Taka 265.78 crore, Increasing Agricultural Production through Surface Water Management and Utilization in Sylhet Division with Taka 499.99 crore, Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Iron Bridges in the Southern Region of the Country, 2nd Revised, with an additional cost of Taka 439.40 crore, Dupitila-1 and Kailashtila-9 Wells (Exploration Wells) Exploration project with Taka 646.48 crore, Construction of Bangladesh Buddhist Monastery Complex at Lumbini Conservation Area, Nepal project with Taka 68.08 crore and Construction of Modern Food Storage,  4th Revised, with an additional cost of Taka 68.57 crore.

Besides, the ECNEC meeting was also apprised about nine projects, which had already been approved by the Planning Adviser.

Advisers concerned attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present. (BSS)