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Sixteen development projects, estimated at a total cost of BDT 65,517.26 crore, are set to be presented for approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting. The meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday (September 16) at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat, presided over by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tareque Rahman.
According to information from the Ministry of Planning, the government’s own funding for the proposed 16 projects will amount to BDT 25,278.12 crore. Project loans will contribute BDT 40,166.67 crore, while the remaining BDT 72.47 crore will be provided by the respective implementing agencies. Among these projects, twelve are new, and four are revised.
Among the proposed projects, the largest in terms of expenditure is the ‘Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5) Southern Route’. Its total estimated cost is BDT 45,503.77 crore, comprising BDT 15,197.66 crore from government funding and BDT 30,306.10 crore from project loans. Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) will implement this project, which is slated to run from September 2026 to August 2033.
Two projects for the development of the railway communication system are also on ECNEC’s agenda. The first revision of the Bogura-Sirajganj New Dual Gauge Railway Line Construction Project has an estimated cost of BDT 4,667.42 crore, compared to the original project cost of BDT 5,579.70 crore. Additionally, the project to introduce electric traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur railway line will cost BDT 3,822.51 crore.
Significant allocations have also been proposed for two projects in the health sector. The ‘Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria in Bangladesh’ project will cost BDT 4,039.06 crore. Concurrently, a proposal of BDT 396.81 crore has been made for a project aimed at strengthening the health system and controlling non-communicable diseases.
Two projects in the road sector have proposed expenditures of BDT 943.87 crore and BDT 1,459.35 crore, respectively. Under the Ministry of Defense, the second phase of establishing Barishal Cantonment has a proposed cost of BDT 1,153.60 crore, and infrastructure development in the Khulna Naval Region is proposed at BDT 374.15 crore.
Furthermore, BDT 1,276.30 crore will be spent on the Financial Sector Support Project-II. The Ministry of Water Resources has proposed expenditures of BDT 751.77 crore and BDT 605.24 crore for two of its projects, respectively.
ECNEC’s list also includes three revised projects related to Khulna sewerage, electricity distribution in Manpura, and digital land management. Additionally, a new project is being undertaken to improve the working environment and social protection for workers in the ready-made garment and leather sectors, with an estimated cost of BDT 89.25 crore.
Meanwhile, ECNEC will also be informed about 15 other projects with expenditures less than BDT 50 crore.
This ECNEC meeting is poised to be the largest under the BNP government since the 13th national parliamentary election. Previously, on May 13, nine projects totaling BDT 36,695 crore were approved. If the proposed 16 projects are approved this time, it will mark the largest ECNEC meeting in terms of financial volume to date.