15 projects, major investment on ECNEC agenda
The government is set to push ahead with a wide-ranging development programme covering transport, defence, healthcare, energy, water management and land administration, as the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) considers 15 projects at its third meeting of the 2026-27 fiscal year on Wednesday.
The meeting, scheduled for 10:00am at the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat, will be chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman, according to a notice issued by the Planning Division.
The proposed projects reflect the government’s focus on expanding transport infrastructure, strengthening public services, improving utility networks and modernising land and water management systems.
Among the major proposals is the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route, to be implemented from September 2026 to August 2033 under the Road Transport and Highways Division.
The committee will also consider two third-phase projects for upgrading district highways under the Rajshahi and Chattogram road zones.
The defence sector has two major infrastructure proposals on the agenda. One involves the second phase of establishing Barisal Cantonment, scheduled for July 2026 to December 2030.
The other concerns the construction of accommodation and other facilities for naval personnel in the Khulna Naval Zone, to be implemented from July 2026 to June 2029.
The first revised Khulna Drainage System Development Project, running from July 2020 to June 2027, is also scheduled for consideration under the Local Government Division.
Two railway projects will come before the committee from the Ministry of Railways.
These are the implementation of electric traction along the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section of Bangladesh Railway and the first revised project for construction of a new dual-gauge railway line between Bogura and Sirajganj.
Energy, industry and health
Under the Industries and Energy Division, ECNEC will examine the Improved Working Condition and Social Protection for Workers in the Textile and Leather Sector project of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
It will also consider the first revised project for upgrading and expanding the electricity distribution system in the Manpura island area under the Power Division.
Three proposals have been placed under the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division.
These include Health System Strengthening through MNCH Services Improvement and NCDs Control, Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Bangladesh, and the Financial Sector Support Project-II (FSSP-II).
The health-related projects are under the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while FSSP-II is under the Financial Institutions Division.
Under the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division, the committee will consider construction of the Musapur Regulator, along with integrated flood and river management and drainage improvement of the Chhoto Feni and Bamni rivers under the first part of the project.
A second revised Digital Land Management System project will also be considered. It covers digital land surveys in three city corporations, one pourashava and two rural upazilas and is scheduled to run from July 2018 to December 2028.
15 projects for information
The notice also lists 15 additional projects already approved by the relevant ministers, which will be placed before ECNEC for information.
Among them are the second revised Automation of Land Management project and the first revised construction of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society’s national headquarters.
Environmental and livelihood-related projects include the first revised Establishing Green Belt at Bhasan Char and Reforestation of Areas Affected by Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, as well as a project to strengthen research, conservation and development of indigenous poultry.
Several infrastructure projects are also included, covering the establishment of a telecommunications network in economic zones, replacement of ageing and risky bridges in the Rangpur zone, construction of the fifth to tenth floors of an RDA building, and construction of a quarter guard and ancillary infrastructure at Jalalabad Cantonment.
Another project seeks to prepare a Digital Elevation (3D) Model of Sylhet division to improve flood forecasting capacity.
Education, social protection and sports infrastructure projects on the information list include infrastructure development at Cantonment Public School and College in Saidpur, further infrastructure development at Military Collegiate School in Khulna, the first revised Strengthening Social Protection for Improved Resilience, Inclusion and Targeting (SSPIRIT) project, and development works at the Barguna and Dinajpur district stadiums.
The agenda also includes the second revised project for drilling the Sylhet-10 exploration well under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
