The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved 14 projects involving Tk 18,483 crore.

The approval came from the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

"A total of 14 projects were approved today involving an overall cost of Tk 18,482.92 crore," Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Of the total estimated cost, Tk 16,370.81 crore will come from government funds, while Tk 95 crore from the own funds of the agencies concerned, and Tk 2,017.11 crore as project assistance, the minister said.

Among the projects, nine are new projects and the remaining five are revised ones.

In terms of cost, the big projects are: Development of Selected Non-Government Secondary Schools Project of Tk 10,649.05 crore, Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRRP): LGED Part of Tk 1,618.10 crore, Construction of Flood Shelter Centres at Flood and River Erosion-prone Area (3rd phase) of Tk 1,507.43 crore and Greater Chittagong Rural Infrastructure Development Project-3 of Tk 1,290 crore.

The Education Engineering Department under the Secondary and Higher Education Division will implement the project -- Development of Selected Non-Government Secondary Schools -- by June 2020, said the planning minister.

The project will ensure the development of infrastructure of these 3,000 vulnerable secondary schools, he said.

Noting that the number of students at the secondary level is some 91 lakh, the minister said a huge number of students are studying in 327 government secondary schools and 19,357 non-government secondary schools. So, it is essential to increase classrooms in the schools to ensure education for all students, he added.

Under the project, academic buildings and other necessary infrastructure will be constructed in the 3,000 selected non-government secondary schools across the country alongside ensuring the supply of necessary furniture for the institutions.

The Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project was revised for the third time which will be implemented by June 2018 in 64 upazilas under Barisal and Khulna divisions. The initial project period was August 2008-June 2013.

The project -- Construction of Flood Shelter Centres at Flood and River Erosion-prone Area -- will be implemented from June 2018 to June 2022 in 247 upazilas under six divisions -- Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Khulna.

The Greater Chittagong Rural Infrastructure Development Project-3 will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department by June 2022 in 23 upazilas of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar districts.

It aims to mobilise farm and non-farm activities and rural economy, and improve road networks connected with healthcare centres, educational institutions and other service providing agencies.

Under the project, upazila roads, union roads and village roads will be developed, while rural bridges and culverts will be constructed alongside development of other infrastructure.