Clicky
National, Front Page

Set up scan machine at all ports: PM

Ecnec nods to 9 projects worth Tk 13,639 crore


Published : 18 Feb 2020 09:49 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 03:33 AM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the authorities concerned to set up scan machines at all ports and stations across the country to prevent entry of anything illegally. “I'm also asking the authorities concerned to plant trees along both sides of roads and highways,” quoting Sheikh Hasina, Planning Minister MA Mannan said at a press briefing after the ECNEC meeting at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Nine development projects involving Tk 13,639.1 crore were approved in the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in the city on Tuesday. The approval came at the meeting with 29th ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

“Apart from these, I'm also asking the authorities concerned to take initiatives in order to keep water bodies and water tanks in place, in case of constructing large-scale infrastructures,” the premier was further quoted as saying. The Premier also underscored the need for not blocking the waterways through constructing unnecessary bridges, but rather to keep the provision of ferries wherever necessary.

She also put emphasis on installing more scanner machines at the ports and in other areas where it is deemed necessary, ensure a strong waste management system as well as set up Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) where it is necessary alongside constructing modern slaughter houses in the cities and towns. Mannan said the Prime Minister also opined to consider proposals from foreign firms or entrepreneurs to produce power from waste.

The approved projects included Noakhali District Bir MuktiJoddha Marhum Hazi Kamal Uddin Road (From Begumganj Globe factory to Kabirhat Falahar) Development Project, Upgradation of Anwara Upazila Connecting Road and Karnaphuli Tunnel Connecting Road (Shikalbaha-Anwara Road) project and Shariopur-Jazira-Naowdoba (Padma Bridge Approach) project under Roads and Highway Department.

The Planning Minister informed, of the total project cost, Taka 8,886.44 crore will come from the state exchequer and Tk 293.16 crore from the concerned organizations own fund while the remaining Tk 4459.41 crore from project assistance. Mannan said the Mongla Port Authority under the Ministry of Shipping will implement the Mongla Port capacity enhancing project in a bid to ensure modern facilities for the port users.

Out of the total project cost of Tk 6,014.62 crore for Mongla Port, Tk 1,555.21 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh while the rest Tk 4,459.41 crore from the Indian Line of Credit, he said. The other projects approved in the meeting are Rajshahi metropolis city integrated infrastructures development at Tk 2,931.62 crore, Freedom Fighter late Alhaj Kamal Uddin Road Development under Noakhali district at Tk 282.11 crore and upgrading Karnaphuli Tunnel link road including Anwara upazila link road at Tk 407.08 crore, he added.

Besides, Shariatpur-Janzira-Naodoba (Padma Bridge approach road) development at Tk 1,682.55 crore, modernization of ports with necessary facilities at Paturia and Daulatdia at Tk 1,351.70 crore, protecting the establishments from the left river bank of Padma under Charghat and Bagha upazilas in Rajshahi at Tk 722.24 crore, Integrated Livestock Development at the now defunct enclaves and char areas at Tk 128.96 crore and Integrated livestock development at Haor areas at Tk 118.13 crore were approved at the meeting, he mentioned.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal; Planning Minister MA Mannan, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader; Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzak; Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmood; Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Tajul Islam; Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni; Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mahmood Humayun; Commerce Minister TipuMunshi; Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malek; Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Sh. M Rezaul Karim; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin; Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and Secretaries and higher arthorities of the concerned ministries were present at the meeting.