DHAKA: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday (Mar 5) approved a total of 8 projects worth Taka 6,276.24 crore.

The projects include the ‘Japanese Economic Zone' project involving an estimated cost of Taka 2,582.18 crore in a bid to draw interest of Japanese investors in Bangladesh.

The approval came from the ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said a total of 8 projects were approved with an overall estimated cost of Taka 6,276.24 crore.

"Of the total project cost, Taka 6,276.24 crore will come from the GoB portion, Taka 2,962.32 crore from project assistance given by overseas lenders," he said.

Under the ‘Japanese Economic Zone' project, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), will develop land, construct access roads and set up a power plant, transmission lines and gas pipelines in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj.

Of the total project cost, Taka 458.35 crore will come from the GoB portion while Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will give Taka 2,127.82 crore as loan.

The ECNEC also okayed a project titled ‘Construction of up to 100-meter length bridges on upazila, union and village roads’ with an estimated cost of Taka 1,983.07 crore.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division will implement the project by June, 2023 the estimated to be entirely borne from the GoB portion.

The main objective of the project is to improve the communication system across the country through building 340 bridges on upazila, union and village roads.

The government has taken a project to renovate 1812 temples across the country with an estimated cost of Taka 228.69 crore. Under the project, 1,228 temples will be renovated.

BDST: 1538 HRS, Mar 5, 2019
RS