DHAKA: The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved eight projects involving Tk 8,968.08 crore including the one to construct a 100-bed full-fledged cancer hospital in every divisional city.

The approval came from the Ecnec meeting with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair held at the NEC Conference Room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Tuesday (September 17).

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said a total of eight projects were approved with an overall estimated cost of Tk 8,968.08 crore. Of these, one of the most important one is the establishment of a cancer hospital in the divisional city. 

This is a good project. Cancer disease is increasing for various reasons including food. Therefore, it is important to increase its medical care, he added.

He further said that 17-storey buildings, including a two-storey basement, will be constructed in the in all divisional medical college hospitals. Under the project, Medical and surgical treatment equipments will be collected for Kurmitola General Hospital of Dhaka, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Chattogram Medical College Hospitals and Sylhet MG Osmani hospital. 

“The diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be ensured there. Dependency on overseas hospitals on cancer treatment will be reduced,” he added.

Other projects approved by Ecnec are ----the development of Mymensingh (Raghurampur) -Fulpur-Nakla-Sherpur regional highway, Upgrading the pavement from Bindu circle of Rajshahi-Nouhata-Choumasia road to Nouhata bridge via airport to four-lane, Road widening and strengthening from Uposhohor circle to Sonadighi circle and from Malopara circle to Sagarpara circle in Rajshahi and Zoonosis and Intra border animal disease prevention and control research.

Besides, Bangladesh will construct 400-KV transmission lines from Rohanpur of Chapainawabganj district to the Mankosa border in a bid to import electricity from Jharkhand of India.

Apart from those, the Ecnec has approved the project titled 'Asrayan-2' at a cost of Tk 4,826 crore.

BDST: 1440 HRS, SEP 17, 2019
RS/SMS