BSS, Dhaka :
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved Bangladesh Economic Zones Development Project (Phase-1) focusing on expansion of ‘multi- product’ industries.
Under the project, four special economic zones would be set up at Sirajganj, Moulvibazar, Anowara and Mirersarai of Chittagong.
The approval came from an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal after the meeting told reporters the ECNEC had approved a total of four development projects, including the economic zones development, with the total outlay of Taka 3,394.40 crore.
“Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 222.63 crore from the national exchequer while Taka 3,171.77 crore will come as project assistance,” he added.
Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam was present at the briefing.
Planning Ministry officials said Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will implement the first phase of the project by June 2016 involving Taka 81.95 crore, of which the government will provide Taka 2.25 crore while the remaining Taka 79.70 crore will come as project assistance.
The Planning Minister said the government would provide land, gas lines, power supply to the special economic zones while the concerned investment companies would make infrastructural development by own cost at the Special Economic Zones.
The project will focus on expansion of “multi- product” industries in different zones, construction and development of necessary physical infrastructures for establishing economic zones in a bid to ensure balanced development of the country.
Kamal said the government has already decided to allocate one of the special economic zones to Japan.
The ECNEC also gave nod to another revised project titled “Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRPS)” at a cost of Taka 3,105.32 crore to be implemented in 13 coastal districts in a bid to improve living standards of the Sidr affected marginal people of the coastal areas through their rehabilitation.
The day’s ECNEC meeting approved another project titled “Development of Comilla University” involving Taka 68.56 crore to be provided by the government.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) and Comilla University will jointly implement the project by June 2019.
Under the project, there will be construction of one new female hostel including extension of one existing male hostel, construction of fourth academic building alongside vertical extension of the existing three academic buildings.
Besides, the ECNEC approved another revised project “Extension of Infrastructural Facilities of the Military Command and Staff College in Mirpur Cantonment (DSCSC)” project involving Taka 138.57 crore to be completed by June, 2014.
Ministers, Members of the Planning Commission and concerned secretaries attended the meeting.
