The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) under the new government is being held today at the ECNEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, with the Prime Minister presiding.
A total of 17 projects have been placed for consideration, with an estimated cost of Tk 13,161 crore, giving priority to sectors such as rivers, infrastructure, healthcare, and technology.
According to sources at the Planning Ministry, the initial list included 18 projects, but the Padma Barrage Project was dropped at the last moment, finalizing the list at 17. Of these, nine projects are entirely new, while 33 additional projects approved by the planning minister will be presented for information.
The proposed Padma Barrage Project, put forward by the Ministry of Water Resources, aimed to mitigate the adverse effects of India’s Farakka Barrage, with an initial estimated cost of Tk 34,497.25 crore.
Projects under discussion include the Karatoya River system development in Bogura and Gaibandha, climate-resilient bridge construction in Mymensingh, emergency water supply in the capital, social infrastructure development, IT training centre establishment, border road construction, and medical college hospital projects across all eight divisions to improve maternal and child healthcare.
Among the finalized projects, four are related to rivers, water, and climate; five focus on infrastructure development; three on road construction and improvement; two on medical and dental college hospitals, and one each on technology development and public-private partnership initiatives.
The total estimated cost of the projects stands at Tk 13,161 crore, reflecting the government’s priority on balanced development and investment in key sectors.
