ECNEC meeting postponed as PM leaves for Japan

The scheduled meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has been postponed due to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Japan, delaying approval of 15 development projects worth around Tk 9,000 crore.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on Sunday morning, with the prime minister, also ECNEC chairperson, set to preside.

The government officially cited “unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for the postponement. However, Planning Commission officials said the final decision to defer the meeting was taken on Saturday night, primarily because of the prime minister’s Japan visit.

According to Planning Commission sources, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Japan on a Sunday evening flight. He needs to complete official paperwork on several important files before departure.

Officials said the ECNEC meeting was unlikely to finish before lunch if it proceeded as scheduled. The authorities therefore decided to postpone it, considering the overall circumstances.

A total of 15 development projects, involving an estimated expenditure of around Tk 9,000 crore, had been prepared for approval at the meeting.

Among the major proposals were projects to drill two appraisal and development gas wells, named Titas-32 and Titas-33, at the Titas Gas Field.

Other projects included the Innovation Climate Smart Urban Development initiative and the establishment of Netrokona University.

The proposed agenda also featured a safe water supply and sanitation project for the Barind region, as well as a project to improve damaged sections of major roads, drains and footpaths under Dhaka South City Corporation.

Two projects to purchase specialised and operational vehicles to strengthen the Bangladesh Police’s capabilities were also scheduled for consideration.

In addition, a proposal to establish nuclear medicine centres at five medical colleges across the country was included on the approval list.

The postponement has delayed the approval process for all 15 projects. No date for the next ECNEC meeting was immediately available.