ECNEC approves 13 projects worth Tk58,089cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved 13 development projects involving Tk58,088.92 crore, with major investments in primary education, domestic gas production, rural infrastructure and public services.
The largest allocation, Tk41,090.48 crore, went to the Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5), aimed at improving learning facilities, teacher training and digital education.
The committee also approved a Tk592 crore project to drill two wells at the Titas Gas Field, potentially adding 30 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) to domestic production.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday, approved 11 new projects and revised two existing ones.
Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk50,041.20 crore, while Tk7,974.65 crore will come from project assistance and Tk73.07 crore from implementing agencies' own funds.
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki briefed reporters after the meeting at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Primary education gets largest allocation
The Tk41,090.48 crore PEDP-5 programme aims to improve the quality of primary education through school construction and renovation, teacher training, digital learning facilities and educational materials.
It also includes multimedia classrooms, school uniforms, sports and cultural activities, alongside proposed initiatives such as 'one teacher, one tablet' and 'one child, one tree'.
However, ECNEC directed the authorities to address the Planning Commission's observations on expenditure and implementation arrangements and submit a revised development project proposal within two weeks.
The observations include Tk436 crore in proposed consultancy costs and allocations for certain activities.
The authorities were also instructed to shift recurring expenditure to the revenue budget within two years and submit completion reports for the third and fourth phases of the Primary Education Development Programme.
Saki said the government wanted to implement its education priorities quickly while ensuring efficient spending and practical implementation plans.
He said combining several initiatives under one programme would improve coordination, while greater use of existing infrastructure and online systems could accelerate teacher training.
The authorities must also clarify training methods, participant selection, quality assurance measures and instructional materials to ensure sustainable improvements in classroom learning.
Tighter scrutiny of development spending
The meeting also discussed measures to strengthen project evaluation, procurement oversight and accountability in public spending.
Saki said the Planning Ministry had issued guidelines covering 13 areas to be considered when preparing development project proposals.
These include the use of renewable energy where feasible, accessibility for people with disabilities, green spaces and assessments of expected returns on investment.
A software-based system is being developed to compare procurement estimates with approved rate schedules. Subject specialists will assess costs where standard rates are unavailable.
For large projects, the Prime Minister has approved engaging price-assessment companies to compare procurement estimates with prevailing market prices.
Saki said the measures would help prevent inflated costs, reduce delays and improve the efficiency of development spending.

Titas gas wells to boost domestic production
ECNEC approved Tk592 crore to drill two appraisal-cum-development wells, Titas-32 and Titas-33, at the Titas Gas Field by September 2029.
The project will be implemented by Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL), a subsidiary of Petrobangla.
Of the total cost, Tk414.40 crore will come from government funds and Tk177.60 crore from BGFCL's own resources.
The estimated cost was reduced by Tk40 crore from the original proposal of Tk632 crore following scrutiny by the Planning Commission.
The two wells are expected to produce around 100.74 billion cubic feet of gas and 60,444 barrels of condensate over 10 years.
BGFCL currently supplies around 480-485 mmcfd of gas to the national grid from five of its six operational gas fields. The Titas field, its largest, produces approximately 330 mmcfd from 23 of its 28 drilled wells.
Saki said the government planned to drill around 30 wells during the current fiscal year, with additional proposals being prepared.
The broader target is to drill 150 wells by 2031 and another 150 between 2031 and 2035 to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The Prime Minister also directed the authorities to identify gas fields where production is constrained by inadequate pipeline infrastructure and examine the potential for extracting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from suitable gas resources.
Rural infrastructure projects approved
The Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry secured approval for five projects covering water supply, sanitation, urban development and rural infrastructure.
These include a Tk1,203.73 crore project to improve safe water supply and sanitation in the Barind region, the Tk2,565.59 crore Social Infrastructure Development Project, canal-related works in Barishal City Corporation and a Tk87.40 crore climate-smart urban development initiative.
ECNEC also approved the third revision of the Priority-Based Important Rural Infrastructure Development Project, raising its estimated cost from Tk6,476 crore to Tk10,427.92 crore.
The revised project includes an additional allocation of Tk3,951.37 crore to improve rural roads and infrastructure in parliamentary constituencies, strengthening connectivity and supporting local economic activity.
Meanwhile, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry received an additional Tk523.34 crore for a revised project to construct bridges and culverts of up to 15 metres on rural roads.
Saki said the government's canal excavation programme had increased the need for such crossings to maintain rural connectivity.

Investments in healthcare, housing and security
Two Home Ministry projects were approved to procure operational and specialised vehicles for Bangladesh Police.
Saki said improving police mobility and operational capacity was essential for public security and a stable environment for economic activity. He also referred to vehicles damaged during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The Defence Ministry received approval for a Tk177.19 crore project to provide residential accommodation for military officers in Dhaka Cantonment.
The Housing and Public Works Ministry secured Tk200.11 crore to construct three 13-storey residential buildings for government employees at Gabtala Colony in Jigatala.
In the healthcare sector, ECNEC approved a Tk535.54 crore project under the Science and Technology Ministry to establish Institutes of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences at five medical college hospital campuses.
The facilities will expand access to specialised diagnostic services, including those used in cancer care.
The authorities were instructed to prepare proposals within three months for the remaining 10 medical college hospitals and cyclotron facilities needed to produce isotopes for nuclear medicine services.
Five additional projects, each costing less than Tk50 crore and previously approved by the planning minister, were also reported to the meeting.
These cover cardiac treatment services in Dinajpur, safe internet use for children and students, traffic infrastructure and road safety in Dhaka North, expansion of the Dhaka Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre and improved waste management in Gazipur City Corporation.
Ministers, advisers, state ministers, Planning Commission members and relevant secretaries attended the meeting.