The government on Tuesday approved a total of seven projects involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 2007.57 crore including one for making the necessary land acquisition, providing compensation to the affected, and ensuring rehabilitation to set up Mymensingh divisional headquarters with Taka 1,224.81 crore.
The approval came from a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held on Tuesday with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence while ministers, state ministers, planning commission members, and secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of the capital of Dhaka.
Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 7 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 2007.57 crore. "Of the total project cost, Taka 1,831.40 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh portion, Taka 53.41 crore from the concerned organization's own fund while the rest of Taka 122.76 crore as project assistance."
Out of the approved 7 projects, four are new while three are revised projects.
State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam was also present at the briefing.
Revealing some of the directives from the premier, the planning minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting asked the authorities concerned to plant 'Jhao trees' on the embankments of the coastal areas as well as along the Naf River at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar to make the embankments more strong and sustainable.
The premier also stressed conducting more research in different sectors.
The planning minister said a Taka 236 crore project of Teletalk over the commercial introduction of 5G services in Dhaka was also placed before the day's meeting, but it was not approved.
He said the project has been postponed for the time being as part of the government's economic austerity measures amid the global crisis.
Mannan said the machinery and equipment under the projects needed to be imported from abroad for which the project has been postponed for the time being.
He said the prime minister has instructed the authorities concerned that 4G services should have to be updated first in the country, then 5G services could be expanded further.
The minister said that the project was not cancelled, rather it can be implemented later.
The proposed project titled "Commercial Introduction of 5G technology in the Teletalk Network in Dhaka Metropolitan area" involving Taka 236.54 crore was designed to implement by December 2023.
The main project objectives include introducing 5G technology commercially, raising interest among the people over 5G technology, and encouraging other mobile phone operators to introduce 5G services.
About the project for setting up Mymensingh divisional headquarters, the planning minister said the divisional commissioner in Mymensingh under the Ministry of Public Administration will implement the project with Taka 1,224.81 crore to be implemented by December 2024 with the entire government fund.
The main project operations include some 945.22 acres of land acquisition, 2.31 lakh cubic meters land development, construction of 4214 meter master drain, 14913 meters of border walls and guide walls, 22824 square meters of internal roads, 1,180 meters of embankments.
The planning minister said under the project for procurement of equipment and machinery from Belarus for selected municipalities and city corporations with Taka 150.62 crore, the government will purchase 81 wheel loaders, 24 backhoe loaders and 64 asphalt rollers for the selected municipalities and city corporations.
The other projects approved in the meeting are Rehabilitation of polders (67/A, 67, 67/B, and 68) along the Naf River under Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas to improve border security along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier in Cox's Bazar district, 1st revised, with an additional cost of Taka 227.02 crore, Strengthening research operations of BINA with Taka 164.01 crore, Uttara Lake Development project, 1st revised with an additional cost of Taka 53.41 crore.
The other approved projects are Expansion and modernization of Dhaka central drug addiction healing center with Taka 162.34 crore, and Jail training center, Rajshahi, 1st revised with an additional cost of Taka 25.36 crore.
Source: BSS