Tarique Govt’s 1st Ecnec meeting: Five projects greenlit, two held back
The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) under the new government on Monday approved five development projects while suspending the session midway to accommodate another urgent engagement.
Discussions on the remaining projects are expected to continue at the next meeting.
The agenda originally included 19 projects, but deliberations were paused during discussion of the eighth project.
Of the first seven, three cost revisions and two timeline extensions were approved.
The total cost of the approved projects stands at Tk3,367 crore, representing an increase of Tk483 crore, with Tk391 crore financed by the government and Tk92 crore from foreign loans.
However, two projects — the Kartoa River System Development Project and the fourth phase of the Participatory Rural Development Project — were returned for further scrutiny and approval in a future session.
The meeting, originally scheduled at the Planning Commission, was later held in the Cabinet Conference Room and chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who also serves as Ecnec chairperson.
A senior planning official noted that the prime minister used the session to review procedural matters and examine projects carefully, with nearly two hours devoted to the Kartoa project alone.
Approved Projects Universal Social Infrastructure Development Project-2 – Revised cost: Tk1,450 crore, up by Tk368 crore.
Char Development and Settlement Project-4 – Cost reduced by Tk3.48 crore to Tk30.71 crore.
Child and Maternal Health and Health System Improvement Project (Component-2) – Cost increased by Tk118 crore to Tk1,213.70 crore, funding modern diagnostic imaging systems in eight divisional medical college hospitals.
IT Training and Incubation Centre Establishment Project (Third Revision) – Fourth timeline extension, Tk533.55 crore.
Gopalganj Dental College and Hospital Project (Second Revision) – Fourth timeline extension, Tk139.30 crore.
Committee Formed for Greater Accountability Following the meeting, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the formation of a special committee to evaluate ongoing development projects and eliminate wasteful spending.
The committee, convened by Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, will review delayed projects or those with repeated cost escalations.
It aims to terminate unnecessary initiatives, extend viable ones, and identify new projects to ensure public funds deliver tangible value.
Dr Titumir noted that many past projects were politically motivated rather than economically justified, often lacking a clear return on investment (ROI).
The committee will scrutinise projects for necessity and viability, reflecting the government’s shift toward efficient use of public resources for citizen welfare.
