The government has approved two big projects for the Rohingyas who were forced to flee to Bangladesh.
Final approval of these two projects with an estimated cost of Tk 8482.97 crore, was given at the National Economic Council Executive Committee (ECNEC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (28 May).
The projects would also ensure various services including road, water, electricity, education, and health infrastructure for the host community.
In a press briefing at the end of the meeting, Planning Minister Abdus Salam presented the details of the approved projects to the journalists.
“Out of the Tk8,482.97 crore that would be needed for the two projects for the Rohingya and host communities, Tk757.79 crore will come from the government's own funds and Tk5.53 crore from the funds of the implementing agencies. Apart from this, Tk 4475.27 crore will come as loan and Tk3,244.38 crore as grants from foreign sources for the implementation of two projects,” the minister said.
“Loans and grants totalling Tk7,719.65 crore will come as foreign aid provided by the World Bank,” he added.
The minister said during the meeting final approval was given for 11 projects at a cost of around Tk14,337,380,000. Out of this, Tk6,541.52 crore will come from the government's own funds and Tk7,879.15 crore from foreign sources.
“World Bank is giving Tk3,814.89 crores as loan and grant out of estimated expenditure of Tk4081.84 crores for implementation of Host and Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) Enhancement of Lives through a Multi-Sectoral Approach Project (HELP): Infrastructure Related Project. The remaining amount will come from government and implementing agency funds,” the planning minister said.
The Road Transport and Highways Department, Power Department, Local Government Department, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Economic Relations Department (ERD) will jointly implement the project.
The ERD will act as a coordinator among these five implementing agencies.
“Expenditure for the Inclusive Services and Opportunities (ISO) for Host communities and FDMN Populations Project has been estimated at Tk4,401 .13 crores. World Bank is giving Tk3,904.76 crore for this project,” Abdus Salam said.
“Tk134.09 crore will be spent on the bank conservation work project of the Karnaphuli river and connected canals under Boyalkhali upazila and Tk874.57 crore will be spent on sustainable water management (1st stage) project in Banshkhali and Anwara upazilas of south Chattogram,” he added.
The cost of construction of a modern steel silo for rice with a capacity of 48000 tonnes in Mahadebpur upazila of Naogaon district by the Ministry of Food has been estimated at Tk367.52 crore.
The rural infrastructure development project of Rajshahi, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has been estimated to cost Tk2,100 crore.
Tk180.50 crore will be spent on the Technical Assistance for Repurposing of Agricultural Public Support Towards a Sustainable Food System Transformation in Bangladesh project by the Department of Agricultural Extension.
Cumilla-Lalmai-Chandpur-Laxmipur-Begumganj (R-140) and Begumganj-Sonaimuri-Ramganj (R-142) regional highway 4-lane development projects are estimated to cost Tk1,679.32 crores.
Apart from approving eight new projects, amendments to three ongoing projects were also approved in the meeting.
Out of this, the second amendment of the Ministry of Shipping for procurement of 35 commercial and 8 auxiliary vessels and construction of 2 new slipways for BIWTC has been estimated at Tk1,837.16 crore.
The first revision of the project was estimated to cost Tk1,318.20 crore.
Ecnec has approved the project titled "Cox's Bazar Airport Development" (1st Phase) at Tk1,885.96 crore.
Apart from this, the second amendment of the project for installing a water treatment plant and deep tube well in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar has been approved.
During the briefing, State Minister for Planning Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, Senior Secretary of the Planning Department Satyajit Karmakar and members of the Planning Commission were present.
