Tk 1,293cr projects get Ecnec nod

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at a meeting yesterday approved eight development projects worth Tk 1,293 crore, including a Tk 500 crore project, aimed at boosting agricultural production.
Prime Minister and Ecnec Chairperson Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting held at the NEC conference room.
“Of the total project cost, Tk 612 crore will come from the public coffer, Tk 606 crore as project assistance and Tk 75 crore from the Japan Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF),” said Planning Minister AK Khandker while briefing journalists after the meeting. Acting Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam was present.
The Integrated Agricultural Productivity Project (IAPP) is aimed at increasing agricultural production in the country's economically underdeveloped region. It will cover 54 upazilas in Barisal and Rangpur divisions. Different agencies of the Agriculture Ministry and Fisheries and Livestock Ministry will implement the project.
A World Bank Fund on agriculture and food security will provide Tk 370 crore for the project.
The meeting approved a project of Tk 173 crore of the Local Government Division. Under the project, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) would develop 117km road-connection network and construct 26km footpath and 89km sewerage line in the city. It would also construct a box culvert, a public library, two community centres and a maternity centre in the metropolis.
The other projects are: Repairing and modernisation of the existing 11 old vocational training centres (Tk 42 crore); Construction of Bangladesh Film Archive Bhaban (Tk 75 crore); Expansion and development of PROYASH at Dhaka cantonment project (Tk 52 crore); Sylhet agricultural university development (first phase) project (Tk 69 crore); South-western integrated water resources planning and management (2nd revised) project (Tk 294 crore) and Construction of Bangladesh chancery complex in Tokyo, Japan project (Tk 88 crore).
Finance Minister A M A Muhith, Planning Minister AK Khandker, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Labour Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and advisers to the prime minister, members of the planning commission, secretaries and officials concerned were present at the meeting.