ECNEC Approves 16 Projects Worth Tk 65,000 Crore; Metro Rail Alone Accounts for Tk 45,000 Crore

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has commenced, presided over by the Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson. A total of 16 development projects, involving an expenditure of Tk 65,517.26 crore, are being presented for approval at the meeting.

The meeting began at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 16, at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat. According to the Ministry of Planning, among the 16 proposed projects, 12 are new and four are revised.

Of the total cost, Tk 25,278.12 crore will be funded from the government's own resources, while Tk 40,166.67 crore will come from project loans. The concerned agencies will contribute Tk 72.47 crore from their own funds.

In terms of cost, the largest among the proposed projects is the 'Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5: Southern Route).' The total estimated cost for this project is Tk 45,503.77 crore, comprising Tk 15,197.66 crore in government funding and Tk 30,306.10 crore in project loans.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) will implement the project. The implementation period has been set from September 2026 to August 2033.

Two major projects for the development of the railway communication system are also on the ECNEC meeting agenda. The cost for the first revision of the 'Construction of New Dual-Gauge Railway Line from Bogura to Sirajganj' project is estimated at Tk 4,667.42 crore; the cost of the original project was set at Tk 5,579.70 crore.

Additionally, the project to introduce electric traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur railway route will cost Tk 3,822.51 crore.

Proposals involving significant expenditure have also been made for two projects in the health sector. The 'Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV-AIDS, and Malaria in Bangladesh' project is set to cost Tk 4,039.06 crore.

Furthermore, a proposal has been made to spend Tk 396.81 crore on the 'Strengthening Health Systems and Controlling Non-Communicable Diseases' project. Proposals have been made to spend Tk 943.87 crore and Tk 1,459.35 crore on two road sector projects, respectively. Additionally, there are proposals to allocate Tk 1,153.60 crore for the second phase of establishing the Barishal Cantonment under the Ministry of Defence and Tk 374.15 crore for infrastructure development in the Khulna Naval Region.

A proposal has been made to spend Tk 1,276.30 crore on the 'Financial Sector Support Project-2'. Meanwhile, two projects under the Ministry of Water Resources have proposed expenditures of Tk 751.77 crore and Tk 605.24 crore, respectively.

The ECNEC agenda also includes three revised projects concerning the Khulna sewerage system, power distribution in Monpura, and digital land management.

A new project aimed at improving working conditions and social protection for workers in the ready-made garment and leather sectors has an estimated cost of Tk 89.25 crore.

Furthermore, the ECNEC meeting will be apprised of another 15 projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore.

This is set to be the largest ECNEC meeting held by the current government since the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Previously, at the meeting held on May 13, nine projects involving an expenditure of Tk 36,695 crore were approved. If the 16 proposed projects are approved this time, it will mark the largest ECNEC meeting of the current administration to date in terms of financial outlay.