The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 11 projects including women empowerment projects worth Tk 4,541 crores and 81 lacs. Technology worth Tk 250 crores and 3 lacs will be used for these projects. The approval was given at the 14th meeting of ECNEC chaired by ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The meeting, held at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka on Tuesday (19 April), was joined by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina via video conference from her official residence Ganobhaban. The meeting was attended by Ministers, State Ministers, members of the Planning Commission, and concerned secretaries.
Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters after the meeting that 11 projects worth Tk 4,541 crores and 81 lacs had been approved at the ECNEC meeting. All projects will be funded by the state exchequer.
Out of 11 approved projects, 6 projects are new and the remaining 5 projects are revised. The Planning Minister said that the Prime Minister had instructed all concerned city corporation authorities to implement development projects from their own funds without relying on the government. He further said that during the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the Rural Development and Cooperatives Department to take effective measures by expanding the activities of milk-based cooperatives in the upazilas to meet the growing demand for protein. Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also emphasised adopting agro-based projects for the production of ghee and powdered milk from milk.
The planning minister said the ICT department would implement the Women Empowerment (Phase II) project with technical assistance by December 2024. The project will be implemented in 130 upazilas in 44 districts of eight divisions. The project was first named the ‘Sea Power Project’. However, it was later renamed ‘Her Power Project’. The main objective of the project is to empower women through the acquisition of skills.
The approved projects are; Her Power Project of the Information and Communication Technology Department, Women Empowerment in Technology Assistance (Phase II) Project, four projects of Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, expansion of dairy cooperative activities in upazilas with a dairy deficit, Dehydration Reduction Project in Sadar upazila of Narayanganj district, Canal Excavation (2nd Amendment) Project from Bahaddarhat Baripara to Karnafuli River, Mymensingh City Corporation Waste Management Development and Necessary Equipment and Machinery Supply Project, Two projects of the Ministry of Water Resources for protection of river basin from erosion of Kaliganga river in Nawabganj of Dhaka district and various important areas of Saturia, Ghior, Manikganj Sadar and Singair upazilas of Manikganj district And preservation of Sadar and adjoining areas of Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district from erosion of Panguchi river and Bishkhali river re-excavation project, Ministry of Railways’ project to build broad gauge railway between Chilahati and Chilahati border (1st Amendment) to establish rail link with India, three projects of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Border Roads (Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban Hill Districts) Construction Phase (1st Amendment) Project respectively, Upgradation of District Highways to Appropriate Standards and Widths (Cumilla) (1st Amendment) Project, Construction and Development of Nabinagar Shibpur-Radhika Regional Highway (R-203) (1st Amendment Project).
