Planning Minister MA Mannan said that load shedding will gradually reduce from the end of September as the global recession is ending.
He made the remark while speaking at a press conference after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday.
The ECNEC meeting held with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The Premier joined the meeting virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence while ministers, state ministers, planning commission members and secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
In response to the questions of the journalists, the planning minister said we talked to the Prime Minister about load shedding in the Ecnec meeting. Load shedding may gradually decrease in September, he mentioned.
Claiming that the situation in the country is improving, Mannan said, “Many people said that the country has faced Sri Lanka-like situation. It has been two months without facing crisis like what they faced in Sri Lanka. Reserves are now at sustainable levels. Inflows of remittances increased by 30 percent. Export is good, besides revenue collection is also good. We will not fall into the ditch, but we shall rise out of the. We will adjust the fuel prices.”
The planning minister said a total of six projects were approved on Tuesday involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 2,504.75 crore.
Of the total project cost, Tk 1,628.13 crore will come from the government while Tk 876.62 crore as project assistance, he mentioned.
He said the approved projects include two projects under the Road Transport and Highways Division, one project under Shipping Ministry, one under the Housing and Public Works Ministry, one under the Industries Ministry and another one under the Agriculture Ministry.
Mannan informed that Roads and Highways Department under the Road Transport and Highways Division will implement the "Proper Upgradation of Sonapur-Kabirhat-Companiganj (Basurhat)-Dagonbhuiya Regional Highway (R-148)" Project with a cost of Tk 457.02 crore by June 2025.
He informed that the Roads and Highways Department will also implement another project titled "Construction of Chunkuri Bridge over Chunkuri River at 28th km of Gallamari-Batiaghata-Dakop-Nalyan Forest Road (Z-7606)" with a cost of Tk 745.33 crore by June 2027.
The other projects approved in the meeting are; "Establishment of Ashuganj Inland Container River Port" project (1st revision) with Tk 458 crore, "Construction of road along Karnaphuli River from Kalurghat Bridge to Chaktai Canal" project (2nd revision) with Tk 469.15 crore," BSCIC Printing Industrial City" project (1st revision) with Taka 125.85 crore and "Irrigation Extension Project through Conservation of Canal Water in Barendra Area-2nd Phase" Project with Tk 249.40 crore.