The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved eight development projects involving a total estimated cost of Tk 14,041.21 crore, with funding to come from both government resources and external loans.

The approvals were given at an ECNEC meeting held at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tareq Rahman.

Of the total project cost, Tk 10,494.21 crore will be financed from the government’s own funds, while Tk 3,550.44 crore will come from project loans.

The approved package includes three new projects and five revised projects spanning local government, transport, power, disaster management, energy and health sectors.

Among the key approvals are the first revised phase of the Universal Social Infrastructure Development-2 (GSIDP-2) project, the Greater Dinajpur Integrated Development Project covering Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts, and the Rural Road Maintenance and Employment Project under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.

Other major projects include the third revised Disaster Shelter Construction, Renovation and Development Project, the second revised Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway Construction Project, the third revised Sylhet Power Distribution System Development Project, a project to drill one appraisal well (Begumganj-5) and two exploratory gas wells (Begumganj-6 and Sunetra-2), and the second revised project to upgrade kidney dialysis facilities at medical college hospitals and establish dialysis centres at district hospitals.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir, Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud and Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, among others.

ECNEC was also informed about 11 projects costing less than Tk 50 crore each that had already been approved by the Planning Minister. These include projects related to the establishment of National University regional offices, airport mobile network infrastructure, road upgrades, power transmission expansion, and the establishment of six BITAC centres in different districts.