Govt approves 3 new infrastructure projects eyeing next election

In a bid to make the voters happy, the government has included three projects involving Tk. 8148.82 crore to a bouquet of rural infrastructure improvement projects ahead of the next general election. The three projects are: Mymensingh region rural infrastructure development project (Tk. 3183.56 crore), Rangpur region rural infrastructure development project (Tk. 2884.86 crore), and Rajshahi region rural infrastructure development project (Tk. 2080.40 crore).

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved these three projects along with another 13 projects involving Tk. 16010.24 crore.

The 16 projects were approved at a weekly meeting of ECNEC held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city, with its chairperson Prime Minister  Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, state ministers and government senor officials were present in the meeting.

"A total of 16 projects were approved today, and Tk 15,969.24 crore will be required to implement those as per the initial estimate," planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters.

The government has planned to implement a total of nine similar projects involving Tk. 14,184 crore across the country . The local government engineering department (LGED) will implement the projects within the next three years, starting from this year.  

Besides, the government is taking up a separate project to develop rural haats and bazaars at a cost of Tk. 1,785 crore. As per the DPPs, the projects would be implemented in all divisions.

Meanwhile, the ECNEC has already approved the Khulna Division Rural Infrastructure Development Project at a cost of Tk. 2,635.70 crore.  After reviewing the projects, the Planning Commission placed the DPPs before the ECNEC meeting for approval.  

Earlier, local government specialist Prof. Tofail Ahmed told The Independent: "I don't want to say that these are election projects. However, they are likely to be indirectly aimed at motivating voters before the next election. The government can implement any politically motivated project to fulfil their political commitment.” “The quality of these projects is important. For this, the funds have to be utilised properly," he added. Tofail Ahmed said an accurate technical plan is required to implement the rural infrastructure

improvement projects. Otherwise, the project funds will be plundered, he warned. He expressed apprehension that the implementing agency, the LGED, is not independent and thus the projects could be influenced by local lawmakers.

However, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal marked the projects as tools for improving the rural infrastructure. The LGED will implement these projects as per the direction of the local MP.

Regarding a similar project approved in September 12, the planning minister said that MPs will not get the funds directly. But they will have to give priority to develop mosques, temples, pagodas, graveyards, cremation grounds and playgrounds in their respective areas, he added.

He also said that there is no possibility of any misuse of funds as local people will be involved in selecting sites for development. However, he did not rule out the possibility of misuse of funds by local public representatives like union parishad members and chairpersons.

Mustafa Kamal further said they will closely monitor each project to avoid any wrongdoing. The other approved projects are: the Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Capacity Building Project (3rd revised) (Tk. 170 crore); Agro Information Service Modernisation and Digital Agriculture Information and Communication Strengthening Project (Tk. 68.71 crore); Infrastructure development project for the existing polytechnic institutes to create more opportunities for admission of the students (Tk. 2561.92 crore); National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University's physical infrastructure development project (Tk. 491.34 crore); establishment of four female polytechnic institutes in Sylhet, Barisal, Ranpur, and Mymensingh (Tk. 353.98 crore);  Awareness campaign for child and women development (5th phase) (Tk. 139.62 crore); Triishal-Balipara-Nandail (Kanurampur) District Highway Width and Strengthening Project (Tk. 114.49 crore); Mirsharai 150 May Dual fuel power plant construction project (Tk. 1063.25 crore); development of reliable power supply in the economic zone at Mirsarai (Tk. 324.59 crore); and Sirta, Mymensingh and Kalkini, Madaripur Islamic Mission Hospital Complex building and strengthening of Baitul Mukarram Diagnostic Center (Tk. 69.17 crore).

 

Govt approves 3 new infrastructure projects eyeing next election

In a bid to make the voters happy, the government has included three projects involving Tk. 8148.82 crore to a bouquet of rural infrastructure improvement projects ahead of the next general election. The three projects are: Mymensingh region rural infrastructure development project (Tk. 3183.56 crore), Rangpur region rural infrastructure development project (Tk. 2884.86 crore), and Rajshahi region rural infrastructure development project (Tk. 2080.40 crore). The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved these three projects along with another 13 projects involving Tk. 16010.24 crore. The 16 projects were approved at a weekly meeting of ECNEC held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city, with its chairperson Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, state ministers and government senor officials were present in the meeting. A total of 16 projects were approved today, and Tk 15,969.24 crore will be required to implement those as per the initial estimate, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters. The government has planned to implement a total of nine similar projects involving Tk. 14,184 crore across the country . The local government engineering department (LGED) will implement the projects within the next three years, starting from this year. Besides, the government is taking up a separate project to develop rural haats and bazaars at a cost of Tk. 1,785 crore. As per the DPPs, the projects would be implemented in all divisions. Meanwhile, the ECNEC has already approved the Khulna Division Rural Infrastructure Development Project at a cost of Tk. 2,635.70 crore. After reviewing the projects, the Planning Commission placed the DPPs before the ECNEC meeting for approval. Earlier, local government specialist Prof. Tofail Ahmed told The Independent: I dont want to say that these are election projects. However, they are likely to be indirectly aimed at motivating voters before the next election. The government can implement any politically motivated project to fulfil their political commitment. The quality of these projects is important. For this, the funds have to be utilised properly, he added. Tofail Ahmed said an accurate technical plan is required to implement the rural infrastructure improvement projects. Otherwise, the project funds will be plundered, he warned. He expressed apprehension that the implementing agency, the LGED, is not independent and thus the projects could be influenced by local lawmakers. However, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal marked the projects as tools for improving the rural infrastructure. The LGED will implement these projects as per the direction of the local MP. Regarding a similar project approved in September 12, the planning minister said that MPs will not get the funds directly. But they will have to give priority to develop mosques, temples, pagodas, graveyards, cremation grounds and playgrounds in their respective areas, he added. He also said that there is no possibility of any misuse of funds as local people will be involved in selecting sites for development. However, he did not rule out the possibility of misuse of funds by local public representatives like union parishad members and chairpersons. Mustafa Kamal further said they will closely monitor each project to avoid any wrongdoing. The other approved projects are: the Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Capacity Building Project (3rd revised) (Tk. 170 crore); Agro Information Service Modernisation and Digital Agriculture Information and Communication Strengthening Project (Tk. 68.71 crore); Infrastructure development project for the existing polytechnic institutes to create more opportunities for admission of the students (Tk. 2561.92 crore); National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Universitys physical infrastructure development project (Tk. 491.34 crore); establishment of four female polytechnic institutes in Sylhet, Barisal, Ranpur, and Mymensingh (Tk. 353.98 crore); Awareness campaign for child and women development (5th phase) (Tk. 139.62 crore); Triishal-Balipara-Nandail (Kanurampur) District Highway Width and Strengthening Project (Tk. 114.49 crore); Mirsharai 150 May Dual fuel power plant construction project (Tk. 1063.25 crore); development of reliable power supply in the economic zone at Mirsarai (Tk. 324.59 crore); and Sirta, Mymensingh and Kalkini, Madaripur Islamic Mission Hospital Complex building and strengthening of Baitul Mukarram Diagnostic Center (Tk. 69.17 crore).