The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 20 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 325.25 billion.
The approval came from the 9th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Tuesday (Oct 9) with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Speaking to media after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said, “Of the total project cost, Tk 154.94 billion will come from the government of Bangladesh, Tk 116.56 billion from the organization’s own fund while the rest Tk 53.74 billion from project assistance.”
Among the approved 20 projects, 14 are new while six are revised projects.
“Of the projects, ‘Ghorashal Polash Urea Fertilizer Project’ will be implemented by the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) under the Ministry of Industries by June 2022,” the minister said.
Out of the total estimated fertilizer factory project cost of Tk 104.61 billion, Tk 18.44 billion will come from the government while the rest Tk 86.17 billon will come from bidders financing.
The ECNEC also approved a project for transporting fuel oil from Chattogram to Dhaka through pipeline, involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 28.61 billion.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will implement the project by December 2020.
The Planning Minister said once the project is implemented, it will be possible to transport fuel oil in lesser time and in a cost-efficient way side by side the system loss in fuel oil transportation will reduce.
About the GDP growth, AHM Mustafa Kamal reiterated that the GDP growth may reach around 8.25 percent at the end of the current fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the ECNEC greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for receiving two international awards — the IPS International Achievement Award and the 2018 Special Distinction Award for Leadership — for her humanitarian and responsible policy in hosting the Rohingyas and for her far-sighted leadership over the Rohingya issue, news agency BSS reports.
The other approved projects are Emergency Assistance Project-BREB portion (Electrification for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals taking shelter in Cox’s Bazar) with Tk 1.04 billion, Rural connectivity improvement project with Tk 36.67 billion, Bangladesh: Emergency Assistance Project (LGED) portion with Tk 2.97 billion, Construction, renovation and development of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Killa with Tk 19.57 billion, Ground level heightening, wave protection and embankment protection works of Mithamain army establishment at Mithamain upazila under Kishoreganj district with Tk 3.04 billion, Protecting both embankments of Karnaphuli and Ichamati Rivers, Shilok canal and other canals under Rangunia and Boalkhali upazilas and Kaptai upazilas with Tk 3.99 billion, Protecting the right embankment of Gangachara River under Rangpur district and Teesta river under Rangpur Sadar upazila, 1st revised, with Tk 1.69 billion.