B Mirror Report: The government has formed the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), appointing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as its Chairperson to oversee and approve major development projects and economic initiatives.

The committee was constituted through a gazette notification issued today by the Cabinet Division. The notification was signed by Md. Humayun Kabir, Additional Secretary (Committee and Economic Affairs).

According to the notification, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will serve as Chairperson, while Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been appointed as the Alternate Chairperson.

Other members of the committee include Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Industries, Commerce, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, and Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam.

Senior government officials will support the committee’s activities. These include the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretary of the Finance Division, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, Secretary of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Planning Commission members, and secretaries of the concerned ministries and divisions. The notification clarified that the term “Secretary” will also include Senior Secretaries.

ECNEC is responsible for reviewing and approving Development Project Proposals (DPPs), Technical Assistance Project Proposals (TAPPs), and Technical Project Proposals (TPPs). It will also examine and approve recommendations of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) for public sector projects involving investments exceeding Tk 50 crore.

In addition, the committee will review the implementation progress of development projects and consider proposals from private initiatives, joint ventures, and participatory investment companies. It will monitor the country’s overall economic situation, review policy matters, and approve annual foreign assistance targets.

The committee will meet as required, with the Planning Division providing secretarial support. The notification said the order takes immediate effect and cancels the previous ECNEC formation notification issued on August 20, 2024.