Gazipur-Azmatpur-Etakhola Project
Ecnec decides to probe irregularities
Approves three projects worth Tk 283 crore
Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved three development projects involving Tk 283 crore, including a revised road construction project cost to Tk 214 crore from Tk 95 crore.
Ecnec approved the projects at its meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The cost of the projects will be borne by the government from its own sources.
“The construction cost of Gazipur-Azmatpur-Etakhola Road (revised) project increased to Tk 214 crore from the original Tk 95 crore due to some irregularities,” said Planning Division Secretary Habibullah Majumder while briefing newsmen after the meeting. Because of irregularities, implementation of the project was delayed resulting in the cost hike, he added. Majumder said an inter-ministerial committee with representatives from divisions concerned will be formed for inquiry into the financial irregularities of the project.
He said although the Ecnec meeting approved the project, the inter-ministerial committee will conduct fresh investigation.
The project of Tk 95 crore was first approved in May in 2001. But, later the project cost increased due to its slow pace of implementation, change of schedule price of the Roads and Highways Department, increasing number of culverts and increase of length of bridges, construction of flexible pavement instead of brick pavement.
Three other projects approved at the meeting include infrastructural development of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) and also strengthening its research activities at a cost of Tk 36 crore.
The main activities of the project aimed at developing and modernising the infrastructure of four centres and five sub-centres of BFRI, procurement of sophisticated research equipment and necessary chemicals for research.
Naria-Pathanbari-NayanMatbarkandi-Dogri-Shawra Road Development project under the Roads and Railway Division was approved at a cost of Tk 33 crore.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Labour Minister Eng Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Land Minister Rezaul Karim Heera and advisers to the prime minister attended the meeting.
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