Ecnec approves 10 projects worth Tk 9,333 crore

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved 10 projects worth Tk 9,589 crore, excluding a proposal to procure two product oil tankers for the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC). The approval came at the Ecnec meeting for the 2026-27 fiscal year, held at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Wednesday, August 19, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

While 11 projects were placed for approval, the proposal to procure two oil tankers worth Tk 1,457.80 crore was not approved. Among the approved projects are those in the health, shipping, road, water resources, local government, livestock and power sectors, including both new projects and revisions to several ongoing ones.

The approved projects include the replacement and reconstruction of dilapidated infrastructure at Dhaka Medical College, costing Tk 1,154.83 crore, to be implemented from September 2026 to August 2030. The first revision of a project to construct 19 hostel buildings for students of 10 medical colleges was also approved, increasing the cost by Tk 201.70 crore to a total of Tk 1,630.45 crore.

A project to enhance modern technological capacity for bridge maintenance management under the Roads and Highways Department was approved at Tk 115.73 crore, with Tk 107.97 crore coming from project loans or grants. Projects for protecting Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila from erosion on the right bank of the Dharla River and constructing a coastal embankment in Chattogram's Sitakunda were also approved at Tk 298.65 crore and Tk 558.83 crore, respectively.

Additionally, a project for the protection and conservation of the Goranchatbari Retention Pond and the Turag River in Dhaka was approved at Tk 567.04 crore. The highest-cost approved project is the rehabilitation and strengthening of rural roads, with an estimated cost of Tk 4,963.67 crore, to be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department.

The third revision of the Livestock Department's capacity-building project was approved, reducing the cost by Tk 45.41 lakh. The second revision of the 100MW solar power plant project in Madarganj, Jamalpur, was approved, increasing the cost by Tk 101.82 crore. The first revision of the electrical infrastructure expansion and strengthening project in Dhaka's Desco area was also approved, increasing the cost by Tk 627.23 crore and extending the project timeline until March 2028.

The meeting was attended by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Local Government, Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman; Industries, Textiles and Jute and Commerce Minister Khandkar Abdul Muktadir; Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon; Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie; and Planning State Minister Md Zonaid Abdur Rahim Saki, along with senior government officials.