ECNEC Endorses Expanded Ecosystem Project to Empower Digital Entrepreneurs

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development (DEED/DD) project of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. Under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the project aims to build a nationwide innovation ecosystem, foster digital entrepreneurs to attract private investment, create employment opportunities for the unemployed, and establish University Innovation Hubs in 10 universities across the country.

In the first revision of the project, the cost increased by Tk 178.12 crore, raising the total project expenditure to Tk 531.18 crore. Of this amount, Tk 98.06 crore will come from the government fund, while Tk 433.12 crore will be sourced from loans or grants.

The approval came during an ECNEC meeting held on Monday, 1 December, at the NEC Conference Room on the Planning Commission premises, presided over by the Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Adviser for Planning Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud; Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md. Touhid Hossain; Adviser for Food and Land Ali Imam Majumder; Adviser for Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Sharmin S. Murshid; Adviser for Home and Agriculture Lt. Gen. Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.); Adviser for Industries, Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan; Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan; Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan; Adviser for Health and Family Welfare Nurjahan Begum; and Adviser for Education Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, along with senior government officials, attended the meeting.

At the meeting, ECNEC approved 17 projects involving a total cost of Tk 15,383.51 crore. Of this, government funding accounts for Tk 9,451.84 crore, project loans total Tk 5,609.70 crore, and the remaining Tk 379.31 crore will come from the implementing agencies’ own funds. Among the approvals were 12 new projects and 5 revised projects.

Following the meeting, Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud briefed the media on the approved projects. The remaining approved projects include:

• Ministry of Agriculture (2 projects):

  1. Sustainable Agricultural Development in Chattogram Agricultural Region

  2. Strengthening Production, Preservation, and Distribution of Quality Seed Potatoes (2nd Revised)

• Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (2 projects):

  1. Drilling of 13 Exploration Wells (Srikail Deep-1, Mobarakpur Deep-1, and Fenchuganj South-1)

  2. Construction of the Sonagazi 220MW Solar Power Plant

• Ministry of Housing and Public Works (3 projects):

  1. Construction of 1,560 flats for families of physically impaired participants of the 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Mirpur Section 9

  2. Construction of ‘36 July’ Residential Flats for families of martyrs of the 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement

  3. Modernization of existing electrical, mechanical and fire safety systems at Bangladesh Secretariat, Transport Pool, Ministers’ Apartments, and Officers’ Residences

• Ministry of Bridges (2 projects):

  1. Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-6) (3rd Revised)

  2. Upgrading Sirajganj–Raiganj (Chandaikona) Z-5042 District Highway to proper standards and width

• Local Government Division (1 project):
  Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project (NGRUDP)

• Ministry of Social Welfare (1 project):
  Autism and NDD Service Center (2nd Revised)

• Ministry of Finance (1 project):
  Japan Human Resources Development Scholarship Project (JDS), 2nd Phase

• Ministry of Education (1 project):
  Construction of Noakhali Science and Technology University’s 3rd Academic and Central Research Building (10-storey foundation, 10-storey structure) and other facilities

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (3 projects):

  1. Climate Responsive Reproductive Health and Population Services Improvement and System Strengthening Project for Results

  2. Establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Center, Munshiganj (1st Revised)

  3. Implementation of essential activities for DGHS, Directorate of Drug Administration, and Community Clinic Health Support Trust

The meeting was also informed about 15 previously approved projects, each costing less than Tk 50 crore. These include modernization of Bangladesh Betar Chattogram Centre, multiple stadium development and dormitory construction projects, poverty alleviation initiatives, infrastructure development projects across various districts, biodiversity enrichment through afforestation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and waterlogging mitigation projects, among others.

DBTech / JA / EK / OR