The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 14 development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk13,445.41 crore, aimed at strengthening infrastructure, healthcare services, and overall economic resilience across Bangladesh.
The approval came at the 10th ECNEC meeting of the 2025-26 fiscal year and the second meeting of the current government, held at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting.
According to officials, of the total project cost, Tk8,089.56 crore will be financed from government funds, Tk5,340.26 crore from project loans, and Tk15.59 crore from the implementing organisations.
Among the approved schemes, five are new projects, five are revised, and four have received time extensions.
Major approvals include the “Expanding Access to Integrated Health Care for the Urban Population” project under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and a revised “Customs Modernisation and Infrastructure Development Project” under the Ministry of Finance.
In the fisheries and livestock sector, the government approved a revised programme for the eradication of PPR disease and control of foot-and-mouth disease.
The Local Government Division secured approval for four projects, including the RIVER project aimed at building resilient infrastructure, housing for sanitation workers under Chattogram City Corporation, infrastructure development for Dhaka South City Corporation, and an emergency water supply project for Dhaka city.
The transport and communication sector saw five major projects under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, including climate-resilient bridges in Mymensingh, border road construction in the hill districts, and several highway upgradation projects connecting Barishal, Bhola, Lakshmipur and Patuakhali, along with the construction of a bridge over the Rangamati River.
Two railway projects were also approved - maintenance and rehabilitation of railway tracks in the western zone and construction of a broad-gauge rail line from Madhukhali to Magura via Kamarkhali.
In addition, the meeting was informed about 33 smaller projects, each costing below Tk50 crore, which had already been approved by the planning minister.
These projects span multiple sectors including roads, bridges, railways, agriculture, fisheries, ICT, power distribution, judiciary infrastructure, river management and special economic zones.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and other cabinet members attended the meeting along with senior officials.
