B Mirror Report : The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 25 development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 45,191.27 crore, including the construction of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital in the northern region of the country.

Of the total allocation, Tk 10,881.40 crore will be financed by government funds, Tk 32,018.09 crore through project loans, and Tk 2,291.78 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources.

The approvals came at the 8th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year (FY26), held at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, with Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus presiding over the meeting. Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud briefed journalists following the session.

Among the approved projects, 14 are new, six are revised and five involve extensions of project duration.

Two major projects under the Health Services Division were approved, including the establishment of the 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital at a cost of Tk 2,459.35 crore and the Health and Nutrition Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project with an allocation of Tk 8,735.41 crore.

Under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, ECNEC approved projects for widening and upgrading the Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari regional highway and upgrading three regional highways along with one district road in Munshiganj.

A revised project of the Housing and Public Works Ministry was approved without any cost escalation for the construction of an elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.

The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry received approval for two projects aimed at strengthening the existing runway and taxiway at Shah Amanat International Airport and developing tourism facilities at Parki in Chattogram.

Two projects under the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry were approved to promote women entrepreneurship in sanitation and to develop key rural infrastructure in Cumilla district.

The Home Ministry secured approval for two projects, including the construction of police outposts, investigation centres, naval police and railway police facilities, tourist police centres, highway police stations, and district offices of the Department of Narcotics Control in the first phase.

ECNEC also approved a revised Bangladesh Railway project for constructing a single-line dual-gauge railway from Dohazari via Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and from Ramu to Gundum near the Myanmar border.

A revised project under the Youth and Sports Ministry aimed at creating employment through freelancing training for educated unemployed youths across all 64 districts was also approved.

Additionally, two revised projects under the Textiles and Jute Ministry for establishing Sylhet Textile Engineering College and Sylhet Textile Institute received clearance.

The Primary and Mass Education Ministry obtained approval for a project titled “Alternative Education Opportunities for Out-of-School Children,” while the Agriculture Ministry had two projects approved, including the Ashuganj-Palash Green Project and the third revision of the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project.

Six projects under the Water Resources Ministry were approved to address sustainable river management, erosion control, dredging, and integrated water and land resource management in different districts across the country.

A revised project under the Science and Technology Ministry related to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction was also approved.

The ECNEC meeting was further informed about 10 projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore, which had already been approved by the Planning Adviser. These include projects related to education infrastructure, emergency services, transport development, and power generation.

Besides, a project was renamed as the establishment of the permanent campus of Bangladesh Maritime University.