The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Sunday approved 25 development projects with a total estimated cost of BDT 45,191.27 crore.

Chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the 8th meeting of the current fiscal year (FY26) saw a significant focus on healthcare, infrastructure, and rural development.

Out of the total expenditure, the government will provide BDT 10,881.40 crore, while BDT 32,018.09 crore will be sourced through project loans and BDT 2,291.78 crore from the implementing agencies' own funds.

Following the session, Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud briefed the media on the approved initiatives, which include 14 new projects, six revised ones, and five extensions.

A major highlight of the meeting was the approval of the BDT 2,459.35 crore Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital, a 1,000-bed facility designed to provide advanced medical care to the northern region and neighboring countries.

Additionally, the Health Services Division secured BDT 8,735.41 crore for a project aimed at improving health and nutrition services and strengthening the national healthcare system.

In the transport sector, ECNEC approved the widening of the Rangamati-Khagrachhari regional highway and several road upgrades in Munshiganj.

The committee also cleared projects for strengthening the runway at Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport and introducing tourism facilities at Parki Beach.

A notable revision was made for the Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat Airport elevated expressway in Chattogram, which was approved without a cost increase.

The railway sector saw a revised approval for the dual-gauge track connecting Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar and Gundum, while the Home Ministry received the go-ahead to construct various police outposts and district offices for the Department of Narcotics Control.

In the education and social sectors, projects were approved for providing alternative education to out-of-school children, offering freelancing training to youths across 64 districts, and establishing textile engineering institutes in Sylhet.

The Local Government Ministry will also move forward with initiatives to promote women entrepreneurship in sanitation and develop rural infrastructure in Cumilla.

The meeting further approved several water resource and agriculture projects, including sustainable river management in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, dredging of the Mahananda River, and erosion control along the Padma and Tetulia rivers.

ECNEC also approved a revised project for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and was briefed on 10 smaller projects—each costing less than BDT 50 crore—previously cleared by the Planning Adviser.

These smaller-scale projects include infrastructure development for government colleges, the expansion of Fire Service ambulance services, and the construction of RAB headquarters.

Finally, the meeting officially renamed the project for the permanent campus of Bangladesh Maritime University.