The government will provide Tk 10,600.80 crore from its own funds, while Tk 4,081.85 crore will come from project loans and Tk 1,524.91 crore from the concerned organisations’ own funds.

Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting at the Secretariat.

Seven of the approved projects are under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives.

The projects include improving roads and drainage systems in 18 wards of five newly incorporated areas of Dhaka South City Corporation; developing infrastructure in key areas of Rangpur City Corporation; rehabilitating damaged roads in Rangpur; and constructing roads, drains and footpaths in zones 1 to 8 of Gazipur City Corporation.

The ECNEC also approved a project to construct a 442MW peak solar power plant at Rampal under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

Other approved projects include developing women’s skills and creating entrepreneurs through cooperatives; improving rural infrastructure in Sirajganj, Bogura and Naogaon districts; and implementing the second phase of the Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project under its second revision.

A project of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) under the Ministry of Shipping was also approved in its third revision.

Under the project, 35 commercial vessels and eight auxiliary vessels will be procured, while two new slipways will be constructed.

The ECNEC also approved a railway project to expand Bangladesh Railway’s capacity through the procurement of 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives.

Another approved project, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to renovate and modernise the purchased chancery building in Paris, France, so that it can be brought into operation.

Sun News/ rabbi