Thirteen projects worth BDT 16,207.55 crore have been approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Among the approved projects, 10 are new, two are revised, and one involves an extension of its implementation period.
These projects were approved at a meeting held on Wednesday (October 7) in the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat, presided over by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tareq Rahman.
Of the approved projects, government funding amounts to BDT 10,600.80 crore, project loans to BDT 4,081.85 crore, and institutional self-financing to BDT 1,524.91 crore.
Among those present at the meeting were Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Women and Social Welfare Minister Abu Jafor Md. Zahid Hossain, Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu, Industries, Textiles and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhaowat Hossain, Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Planning Md. Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki, and other relevant senior officials.
Key highlights of the approved projects:
Important Urban Infrastructure Development: The second revision of this project increased the cost by BDT 1,310.40 crore, bringing the total expenditure to BDT 7,039.30 crore. The entire amount will be funded by the government.
Rural Infrastructure in Sirajganj-Bogura-Naogaon: A new project worth BDT 3,767.50 crore has been approved for rural infrastructure development in these three districts. The entire amount will be government-funded. The project is scheduled for implementation from October 2026 to June 2030.
Bangladesh Railway Capacity Enhancement: A project worth BDT 2,769.86 crore has been approved for the procurement of 30 meter-gauge diesel-electric locomotives. Of this, BDT 811.38 crore will come from government funding and BDT 1,958.48 crore from project loans. The project duration is from July 2026 to December 2029.
Rampal Solar Power Plant: A project worth BDT 2,498.0793 crore has been approved for the construction of a 442 MW peak solar power plant. This includes BDT 2,123.3674 crore from project loans and grants, and BDT 374.7119 crore from the implementing agency’s own financing.
Gazipur City Corporation: A project worth BDT 2,586.99 crore has been approved for the construction of roads, drains, and footpaths in zones 1 to 8. Government funding for this is BDT 2,198.9415 crore, and the City Corporation’s own financing is BDT 388.0485 crore.
Dhaka South City Corporation: A project worth BDT 784.4987 crore has been undertaken for road and drainage development in 18 wards across five new areas. Government funding for this is BDT 549.1490 crore, and DSCC’s own financing is BDT 235.3497 crore.
Rangpur City Corporation: A new project worth BDT 1,602.7903 crore has been approved for the development of important urban infrastructure. Additionally, a project worth BDT 210.4928 crore has been undertaken for the rehabilitation of damaged roads.
BIWTC: The third revision of the project for procuring 35 commercial and eight auxiliary vessels and constructing two new slipways has been approved. The cost has been increased by BDT 77.23 crore, setting the total expenditure at BDT 2,168.88 crore. The project duration has been extended until June 2027.
Chancery Building Renovation in Paris: A new project worth BDT 211.30 crore has been approved for the renovation and modernization of the purchased Chancery building in Paris, France, to make it suitable for use. The entire amount will be government-funded.
Second Karatoya Bridge: A project worth BDT 203.5266 crore has been undertaken for the construction of the Second Karatoya Bridge at the 15th kilometer of the Bhajanpur-Panchagarh road in Panchagarh. The entire amount will be government-funded, and the project will be implemented from October 2026 to June 2030.
Thanchi-Rimakhri-Modok-Likri Road: The second revision of this project increased the cost by BDT 36.5032 crore, setting the total expenditure at BDT 926.1232 crore. The project duration has been extended for the fourth time until June 2028.
Women Entrepreneurship Development: A new project worth BDT 184.8835 crore has been approved for skill development and entrepreneurship creation among women through cooperatives. The entire amount will be government-funded. The project is scheduled for implementation from April 2026 to December 2029.
Additionally, ECNEC was informed about a project costing less than BDT 50 crore, which had already been approved by the Planning Minister. This includes the re-excavation project for the Nandahar, Harabati River, Nungola Canal, and Kharoa Canal in Joypurhat district.
