Govt on pre-poll project spree
The Ecnec is set to approve more than two dozen projects today, just a week before the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the upcoming general election.
Usually, once the election schedule is announced no projects are approved. So, the ministries and divisions are rushing to the planning ministry to get the green light for their projects.
Besides, earlier in August, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in a meeting had directed all secretaries to get their projects approved by September, as the election-time government -- if it is formed -- will do only routine work and it cannot take any policy decision.
Many of the projects that are being planned are for enhancing rural and district roads, improving the electricity distribution system and city corporation development, which will boost the ruling party nominees' chances in the upcoming polls, observers said.
So far this month, about 58 projects involving Tk 64,042 crore were approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council. In the first half of this month, two Ecnec meetings were held in one week, setting a rare example.
The planning ministry will take steps following the EC's election guideline, said a high official of the ministry, adding that the huge number of projects is being approved anticipating restrictions on project approval in the schedule.
About 25 projects may be placed in today's Ecnec meeting, the official said.
These include: setting up new dual gauge rail lines from Bogura to Sirajganj; construction of drains, footpath and roads in Gazipur City Corporation; construction and repair of damaged roads, drains and footpaths in Dhaka North City Corporation; widening of the road from Madani Avenue to the Balu river; and construction of road from the Balu to the Shitalakkhya river.
The other projects pertain to: construction of a 20-storey new office building at the secretariat; building nine residential towers for police; setting up polytechnic institutes in 23 districts; and construction of nine government secondary schools.
Last week the Ecnec approved 21 projects involving Tk 19,778 crore.
One of the projects involving Tk 3,885 crore is for acquisition of land and shifting of utility facilities from Kanchpur in Dhaka to Tamabil via Sylhet, paving the way for the expansion of the highway into a four-lane.
