DHAKA: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council Tuesday approved seven projects involving around Tk 4,228 crore, including two schemes for promoting the agreed Bangladesh-India cooperation.
Of the total amount, the government would finance Tk 3,056 crore while Tk 1172 crore would come in assistance.
ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held in the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar NEC conference room.
Planning Secretary Habib Ullaah Majumder briefed journalists after the meeting.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister asked for quick implementation of two projects for dredging rivers under the Water Resources Ministry at a cost of Tk 1949 crore.
The government will buy 17 dredgers under the project. Six of the dredgers will be financed from the loan assistance from India while the government will finance the rest 11.
The Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned to take “proper actions for dredging, developing and preserving the rivers and consult the experts for ensuring proper utilization of the dredgers”.
Setting up 400-KV interconnection between Bangladesh (Bheramara) and India (Bahrampur) is among the other projects involving Tk 2279 crore.
The rest are Bajunia-Gandhasur-Satpar-Hatiara-
Ramdia road development, Goalanda-Faridpur-Tarail road development, rehabilitation of Pachuria-Faridpur-Bhanga rail lines, and augmentation of gas production under fast-track programme.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Labour, Manpower and Expatriates Welfare Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, Commerce Minister Lt. Col. (retd) Faruk Khan, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Prime Minister`s Advisers HT Imam, Dr Alauddin Ahmed and Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Brig (retd) Enamul Haq attended the meeting.
BDST: 2110 HRS, AUGUST 17, 2010.
