Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to revise the construction material rate schedules of different development projects, in line with changing prices.
She also directed the authorities concerned to consider the latest exchange rate of USD before preparing the drafts of the development projects as this exchange rate often influences the overall expenditure of these projects.
Sheikh Hasina gave the directives while chairing the 1st meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) of FY24 held on Tuesday at the NEC Conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
The ECNEC has approved 15 projects including “Amar Gram Amar Shahar” at the cost of Tk 18,010.12 crore. The government will fund Tk 12,192.07 crore while Tk 5,233.43 crore will come from foreign loan assistance. The implementing agencies will provide Tk 584.62 crore.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “The prime minister has noted that the prices of construction materials like iron, cement, stones and bricks are on an uptrend in the market.
“For which the prices of such items often go up during the implementation period compared to the exact time of framing the rate schedule of development projects. Sheikh Hasina had noted that this could happen in the growing global economy.
He added, “The prime minister, in this regard, asked the authorities concerned, including the Ministry of Finance, to revise the rate schedules as per the necessity and changing of prices of construction materials.
“Noting that the exchange rate of USD also influences the overall expenditure of the development schemes, she also suggested accommodating the latest exchange rate before finalizing the overall expenditure or financial estimation of the projects.”
Sheikh Hasina has clearly directed the Ministry of Finance and other concerned agencies to address these issues, added Mannan.
He said the prime minister has directed the Ministry of Law to take necessary steps for disposing of tax related pending cases with the Supreme Court and thus realizing taxes to enrich the state coffer.
Referring to a project for constructing Urirchar-Noakhali Cross Dam, Mannan said that the Prime Minister strongly asked the Ministry of Water Resources to remain cautious while dealing with the project since coastal areas are involved in it.
She cautioned that the adjacent islands, areas and channels should not be disturbed during the implementation of this project.
Directing the authorities concerned to take necessary steps for preserving seasonal vegetables and fruits, the prime minister noted that countries like Thailand, Vietnam have become successful in the business and export of fruits after preserving and bottling those.
Such a process can also be followed in Bangladesh, she added.
In order to avoid duplication of projects in the same area, Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to become more cautious and thus work in an integrated manner. "If there is overlapping, then there can be misuse of funds," Mannan said quoting the prime minister.
Referring to the “Amar Gram-Amar Shohor” project, Sheikh Hasina said this is a pilot project and its experiments could be useful in the future.
But, she said no further projects would be taken in future under the same title while all concerned agencies should work in an integrated manner.
The planning minister said in the ECNEC meeting, the prime minister was apprised of the findings of two BBS surveys on Literacy Assessment and ICT Use and thus expressed her satisfaction over the results.
‘Amar Gram Amar Shahar’
Mannan said under the “Amar Gram Amar Shahar” project, flat facilities in villages as well as cities, union revenue collection system, cultural centres, water and sanitation, and sustainable energy system will be developed.
Initially, Tk 800 crore will be spent to implement the pilot project in 15 unions. It will be gradually spread across the country. Through the project, 616 units or 68 four-storey residential buildings will initially be built in three villages.
This project has been approved to provide the benefits of the city to the villages.
Providing more details, Planning Division Secretary Satyajit Karmaker said, “The project has been taken on a pilot basis based on the findings of a study. The government will implement it in other villages with the findings gained from here.”
Other projects approved at the meeting included Barapukuria-Bogura-Kaliakoir 400 KV line project under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Film City (2nd Phase) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Sylhet Medical University (SMU) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a project to continue river flow during dry season, waterways development and flood management projects to restore the flow of Jhenai, Ghaghat, Banshi and Nagda rivers.
The Ulipur-Chilmari Link Road Construction Project, Design and Construction Quality Enhancement Project for Resilience of Private Buildings, Integrated and Sustainable Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Record Building construction project for Bangladesh Supreme Court, Barisal, Bhola, Jhalkathi and Pirojpur District Irrigation Development Project etc are also in the list.
