The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Monday approved 13 projects with a total outlay of Tk 2,795 crore, including Tk 258 crore in foreign aid.

The ECNEC also approved an additional Tk 200 crore for the ongoing Begunbari-Hatirjheel project in the city. With this allocation, the total project cost will rise to Tk 1,673 crore from the existing Tk 1,473 crore.

Chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, the meeting at the Planning Commission was attended by Advisers and Secretaries of different ministries.

After the meeting, Finance Adviser Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam told reporters that the additional allocation to the Begunbari-Hatirjheel project was given on urgent basis to meet the cost of acquiring extra 34 acres of land.

Normally, such allocation is approved in the revised budget. But considering the urgency of extra land acquisition, the government has given the approval instead of waiting until the revised budget comes.

"This allocation was made through an inter-sectoral adjustment," the Finance Adviser said.

The projects approved in the ECNEC meeting include 'Construction of Upazila and Regional Server Stations for Electoral Data Base' with project cost of Tk 208 crore to set up voter ID card server stations at the upazila level.

Other projects include BIWTC's Ro-Ro Ferry and Pontoon rehabilitation at Tk 74 crore, Water supply programme project (Tk 161 crore), Transforming existing non-government schools into model schools in selected 306 upazila headquarters (Tk 466 crore), Dhaka University Special Development project (Tk 121), Pabna Science and Technology University project (Tk 96 crore), Barisal Shaheed Ziaur Rahman University project (Tk 95 crore), Stipends for female students at higher secondary level (Tk 201 crore), Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital project (Tk 165 crore), Population Census and Homestead Census project 2011 (Tk 120 crore) and Construction of Academic building for selected schools (Tk 895 crore).