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The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a set of eight projects including the one for protection of riverbanks of Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakshya and Balu around the capital.
The approval came at the ECNEC meeting held at the National Economic Council (NEC) conference room on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting through videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban.
After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters a total of eight projects have been approved involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 7,589.72 crore.
“Of them, Tk 5,009.72 crore will come from the government exchequer and Tk 2,580 crore as project assistance,” he added.
Of the approved eight projects, six are new projects while two are revised projects.
The minister said Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Authority (BIWTA) will implement the Dhaka Riverbank Protection Project worth Tk 1,181.10 crore.
The cost of the project was earlier estimated at Tk 848.55 crore. Later, an additional fund of Tk 332.55 crore has been added to it.
The project to be completed by June 2023 aims to increase navigability, depth and amplitude of the four rivers surrounding Dhaka. It will also enhance beauty of the water bodies along with taking measures to keep water pollution at pay.
Under the project, various infrastructure including walkways on the banks of four rivers will be constructed, thereby improving civic amenities.
Initially, three Eco parks, recreation centres, sitting bench, food courts and necessary toilets will be built along the 50-kilometre walkway around the four river banks.
Besides, tree plantation and tourism sites will be developed under the project.
Another project titled “Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation” will focus on training youth, women and disadvantaged people for their employment.
The Department of Technical Education under the Technical and Madrasah Education Division will carry out the project worth Tk 4,300 crore by December 2026.
Of the total project cost, Tk 1,720 crore will come from the state coffer while Tk 2,580 crore from the World Bank.
Other projects approved at the ECNEC meeting include construction of physical infrastructures at Hily, Burimari and Banglabandha LC Stations at a cost of Tk 80.61 crore, construction of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo theatre, Rangpur, with Tk 417.65 crore, strengthening capacity of regional lentil research centre in Madaripur and boosting lentil production at greater Barishal and Faridpur regions with Tk 168 crore, development of reclaimed land from the river Jamuna in Sirajganj and protection of proposed economic zone (first revised) at a cost of Tk 638 crore and rehabilitation of polder No. 15 of Satkhira district with Tk 1020.43 crore and building of living quarters for all municipality cleaners at a cost of Tk 1142 core.
