Dhaka | April 26, 2026
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarek Rahman, approved 14 development projects today with a total estimated cost of 13,445.41 crore BDT. The meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, prioritized essential projects in health, infrastructure, railways, and agriculture to accelerate national development.
Out of the total expenditure, 8,089.56 crore BDT will be provided by the government treasury. Additionally, 5,340.26 crore BDT will be sourced through project loans, while 15.59 crore BDT will come from the implementing agencies' own funds. Among the approved projects, five are new initiatives, five are revised, and four involve extensions of existing timelines.
Key Approved Projects:
• Health Sector: Approval was granted for the project "Expanding Access to Integrated Health Care for the Urban Population" to ensure healthcare services for city dwellers.
• Infrastructure & Roads: Major approvals include the development of various infrastructures under Dhaka South City Corporation, the construction of climate-resilient bridges in Mymensingh, and the 2nd phase of the border road construction in Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban.
• Railways: Maintenance and rehabilitation of the Western Zone railway and the construction of a rail line from Madhukhali to Magura town were approved.
• Power & Energy: Several revised projects were accepted, including the installation of smart pre-paid meters in DESCO areas and the modernization of distribution systems under the Rural Electrification Board (REB).
During the meeting, concerns were raised regarding three road projects in the Barishal and Patuakhali regions whose durations have been extended five times. Consequently, ECNEC decided to form an inquiry committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary, to investigate the reasons behind these repeated delays.
The Planning Minister also informed the committee of 33 additional projects (each costing under 50 crore BDT) that had been previously approved. these include river dredging, agricultural development, community-based sports initiatives, and the establishment of IT training centers.
The meeting was attended by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and other high-ranking cabinet ministers and government officials.
