The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a Tk 4,282.76 crore project to ensure the expansion and modernisation of the facilities at Mongla Port in Bagerhat.
The approval came from a meeting of the ECNEC held with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said a total of 19 projects were approved on Tuesday involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 18,066.52 crore. "Of the total project cost, Tk 12,060.19 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh portion, Tk 450.72 crore from the concerned organisation's own fund while the rest of Tk 5,555.61 crore as project assistance," he added.
Of the approved 19 projects, 13 are new while seven are revised projects.
The Mongla Port Authority under the Ministry of Shipping will implement the project by June 2027 with a Tk 3,782.36 crore loan from China on a G-2-G basis.
The main objectives of the project are ensuring modern port facilities at Mongla alongside enhancing its container handling capacity, constructing a container terminal as well as container delivery yard and container yard, and ensuring hazardous cargo handling facilities.
The main project operations include general works, land development, pavement, marine structures and handling equipment.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: Upgrading district highways into due standard and width, Khulna Zone, first revised with an additional cost of Tk 106.17 crore, Upgrading Feni (Mohammad Ali Bazar)-Chagalnaiya- Korerhut Road (Dhaka-Chattogram old Highway) and constructing Shuvopur Bridge over River Feni) with Taka 549.93 crore, Emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction of different roads, bridges and culverts affected during the flood in 2022 under Sunamganj and Habiganj road division with Tk 2,681.24 crore, Construction of Kodomrosum Bridge over River Sitalakshya near five number Ghat under Narayanganj City Corporation, first revised with an additional cost of Tk 144.43 crore, Physical Infrastructures development of Gazipur City Corporation (road and drains), third revised with no additional cost, Land acquisition for constructing sewerage treatment plant at Reyerbazar area with Tk 1,780 crore, Constructing Majar Mosque on the premises of Bangladesh Supreme Court with Tk 110.58 crore, Developing transmission infrastructures in the Southern region of Chattogram Division and at Kaliakoir Hi-Tech City with Tk 2,762.43 crore, Cent percent reliable and sustainable electrification at Hatia Island, Nijhum Island and KutubdiaIsland, first revised with an additional cost of Tk 262.76 crore.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: Construction of 13 new buffer godowns in different districts of the country for preservation of fertilisers and ensuring distribution facilities, third revised with a reduced cost of Tk 1.36 crore, Strengthening distribution operations of seeds by BADC at farmers level with Tk 282.62 crore, Integrated livestock development in the riverine char areas of Manikganj, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts with Taka 303.67 crore, Protecting Old Hijla, Baushia and Horinathpur areas under Hijla upazila from the River Erosion of Meghna with Tk 628.86 crore, Protecting Majhirghat Zero Point area from the erosion of right embankment of River Padma under Zanzira upazila of Shariatpur district with Tk 859.77 crore, Construction of accommodation for the insolvent valiant freedom fighters, first revised with an additional cost of Tk 1,973.54 crore, Further development of Bangladesh Agricultural University, first revised with an additional cost of Tk 363.70 crore, Improving capacity of womenfolk through creating scopes in productive and potential works, second phase with Taka 148.40 crore and Chandpur Town Protection Rehabilitation with Tk 827.02 crore.
The meeting also approved the increased timeframe of a project without raising its cost.
Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while planning commission members and secretaries concerned were present.
