TDS Desk:

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Monday approved a total of five projects involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 5,915.99 crore including one for improving the sewerage system of Chattogram (catchment 2 and 4) with around Taka 5,152.55 crore.

The approvals came from a meeting of the ECNEC with its chairperson and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus in the chair held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Of the total cost for five projects, Taka 1,095.94 crore will come from the Government of Bangladesh portion, Taka 4,787.50 crore from project assistance while the rest of Taka 32.55 crore from the concerned organization’s own fund.

Of the approved five projects, two are new while three are revised projects.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said that now time has come to make some policy adjustments in project implementation aspects.

He said that after assuming office, the interim government has been focusing on making the development projects free from corruption and irregularities, but now they would go for speedy implementation of the schemes.

The Planning Adviser said that the advisers in the meeting have discussed about undertaking some innovative projects in the areas of Human Resources, education and on those necessary infrastructures.

Citing that the implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme in the first four months (July-October) of the current fiscal year (FY25) was low, he hinted that the ADP might be trimmed due to various reasons like the previous years.

Answering to a question, the Planning Adviser informed that within a day or two all the Ministries and Divisions would be requested from the Planning Commission to implement their ongoing projects in a speedy manner shunning corruption and irregularities.

Besides, Dr Mahmud said he would also write to the advisers personally about the implementation of the development projects.

He told another questioner that at the end of the current fiscal year, sectors like education might see proportionately higher allocation than other entities especially in the areas of educational equipment, for scientific and research materials and equipment.

The Planning Adviser also hoped that if stability is restored in the economy, then private sector entrepreneurs would come in large numbers and thus propel the economy.

The other projects approved in the meeting are Extension and strengthening of network of eastern region grid, 1st revised, with an additional cost of Taka 459.95 crore, Capacity building of universities in Bangladesh to promote youth entrepreneurs with Taka 93.50 crore, Modern waste and released oil removal management of Mongla Port, 1st revised, with an additional cost of Taka 110.15 crore and Emergency multi-sector Rohingya Crisis response project, 2nd revised, with an additional cost of Taka 99.84 crore.

Besides, the day’s ECNEC meeting extended the timeframe of two projects without raising their costs.