The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a total of 39 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk  866.87 billion.

The approval came from the 13th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal briefed the media after the meeting.

“Of the total project cost, Tk  664.67 billion will come from the GoB portion, Tk  3.13 billion from the organization’s own fund while the rest of Tk  199.07 billion from project assistance,” he added.

Of the approved 39 projects, 31 are new while the rest of 8 are revised projects, , new agency BSS quoted the minister.

Kamal informed that the general point to point inflation rate in October eased further to 5.40 percentage point from 5.43 percentage point in September.

He informed that the Joydevpur-Ishwardi dual gauge double line project will be implemented by December 2024 by the Bangladesh Railway with Tk 87.57 billion assistance from the Chinese government.

Under the project, around 162.023 kilometers of the existing single line from Joydevpur to Ishwardi out of the 174 kilometers route will be transformed into dual gauge double line, Kamal said.

This line is part of the proposed trans-Asian railway network, SAARC, SASEC, BIMSTEC and BCIM route, he added.

Asked about the reason behind giving approval to such number of projects in one meeting, Kamal said these projects were approved to maintain the existing growth momentum alongside ensuring socio-economic welfare of the people of the country.

Replying to another question, he said if it is not contradictory to the concerned rules and laws, more ECNEC meetings might take place before the next general election.