February 19, 2013

The government approved several projects at the regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.

ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting, Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam told reporters after the meeting.

The country’s top economic policymaking body approved a total of eight development projects including Shikalbaha power plant one.

Of the total cost of Bangladeshi Taka 78.82 billion the government would provide 48.14 billion from the national exchequer while the remaining 30.68 billion will come as project assistance.

The ECNEC meeting also approved another revised project to establish grid interconnection between Bangladesh and India for transfer of power at an estimated cost of Tk 15.80 billion.

The project relating to power transfer to and from India would be implemented under the aegis of South Asian sub-regional co- operation.

The project includes construction of 31-kilometer transmission line and two substations and acquisition and development of 113 acres of land in Bangladesh.