Bangladesh clears Tk 867 billion 39 projects in one go ahead of election

The government has cleared a record 39 projects at a total estimated cost of nearly Tk 867 billion in one go ahead of the general elections.

The government will provide over Tk 664 billion and the related agencies more than Tk 3 billion while nearly Tk 200 billion will come as foreign aid.

The projects cleared by the ECNEC on Sunday include seven with a total cost of around Tk 28 billion for the law enforcers.

One of the seven projects is for construction of nine residential towers for Dhaka Metropolitan Police at over Tk 9.75 billion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the ECNEC meeting and Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal briefed the media about the projects.

Later in the day, the Election Commission said it will announce the schedule of the 11th parliamentary elections on Nov 8.

Planning ministry officials said it was the first time the ECNEC has cleared so many projects in one meeting.

Minister Kamal said, “Our economy was not so big in the past. That’s why we had not cleared so many projects in one go. We are doing this now because our financial capabilities have increased.”

Asked why so many for the law enforcers, he said all the projects were cleared because the government thought those were necessary.

He also hinted at more projects being taken up before the voting.