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ECNEC approves 12 projects worth Tk 1.68 lakh crore

Published : Wednesday, 16 September, 2026 at 4:09 PM

Observer online report

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 12 projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 1,68,780.40 crore, including seven new and five revised projects.

The projects were approved at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday.

State Minister for Planning Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki briefed reporters about the decisions at a press conference at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar after the meeting.

Of the total project cost, Tk 48,256.30 crore will come from government funds, Tk 1,20,466.39 crore from project loans and Tk 57.71 crore from the implementing agencies' own resources.

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry has the highest number of approved projects, with five.

These are the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route; Upgrading district highways in the Rajshahi road zone to proper standards and widths; Upgrading district highways in the Chattogram road zone to standard and required widths (Third Phase); Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Northern Route (First Revised); and Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-1) (First Revised).

Two projects under the Railways Ministry have also been approved. They are the introduction of electric traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section and construction of a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj (First Revised).

The Defence Ministry's projects include the establishment of Barishal Cantonment (Second Phase) and construction of infrastructure, including accommodation for naval personnel, in the Khulna naval area.

The ECNEC also approved a project under the Labour and Employment Ministry to improve working conditions and social protection for workers in the textile and leather sectors.

Other approved projects include the Khulna sewerage system development project (First Revised) and the upgrading and expansion of the electricity distribution system in Monpura island areas (First Revised).

Fifteen projects costing less than Tk 50 crore were also presented at the ECNEC meeting. The planning minister approved these projects under his delegated authority.

The projects include Land Management Automation (Second Revised); construction of the national headquarters of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (First Revised); establishment of a green belt at Bhasan Char and reforestation in Rohingya-affected areas of Cox's Bazar (First Revised); strengthening research, conservation and development of indigenous chickens; and establishment of telecommunications networks in economic zones (Phase I) (First Revised).

The meeting was also informed about projects to replace risky Bailey and other bridges in the Rangpur zone (First Revised); construct the fifth to 10th floors of the RDA building; construct a quarter guard to strengthen the capabilities of SI&T at Jalalabad Cantonment; prepare a 3D model for flood forecasting in Sylhet division (First Revised); improve infrastructure at Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College and Khulna Military Collegiate School; strengthen social protection (SSPRIT) (First Revised); develop the Barguna and Dinajpur district stadiums; and drill the Sylhet-10 exploration well (Second Revised).

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