DHAKA, Nov 7, 2018 (BSS) – The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a project to establish Sheikh Hasina University in Netrakona involving Taka 2,637.41 crore.
The university will impart general, science and technology-based education to create well-educated and skilled human resources.
The approval came from the 14th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said it had approved a total of 28 projects with an outlay of Taka 30,234.60 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Taka 24,854.68 crore will come from the GoB portion, Taka 539.17 crore from the organizations’ own fund, while Taka 4,840.75 crore from project assistance,” he added.
Of the 28 projects, 19 are new and nine revised.
The Planning Minister said Bangladesh University Grants Commission and Sheikh Hasina University, Netrakona will jointly implement the university project by June 2021 with the government fund.
Earlier at a cabinet meeting on January 30 last year, it was decided to establish Sheikh Hasina University as a research-based general university. Besides, academic activities on humanities, science, social sciences and commerce will be carried out in this University where MPhil and PhD degree would be conferred on the successful candidates.
The university will be set up on some 500 acres of land in Shingher Bangla union which is 5 kilometers away from the district headquarters. The admission of students for the academic year 2018-19 will be initially handled by the Technical Training Center at Razur Bazar.
In the first academic year, it will open departments like Bangla, English, Computer Science, Engineering Department and Development Economics.
The Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting has asked the authorities concerned to keep sufficient space for sports and games in the University alongside a provision for rainwater preservation.
She also put emphasis on conducting research on the livelihood of the people of haor region and on how to bring more people of this region in the mainstream economy.
The ECNEC meeting also gave nod to the Livestock and Dairy Development project involving an estimated cost of Taka 4,280.36 crore aimed to enhance unique productivity of livestock at family level.
Out of the total project cost, Taka 394.63 crore will come from the GoB portion while Taka 3,885.73 crore will be available as project assistance from the World Bank.
The Planning Minister said massive development works were undertaken over the last 10 years under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He reiterated his firm resolve that the GDP growth rate in the current fiscal year would be not less than 8.25 percent.
He said if the Awami League government assumes office for another term, employment opportunities would be created for nearly two crore unemployed youths while poverty rate and extreme poverty rate will also come down significantly.
The other projects approved in the meeting include Establishment of sewerage system in Chattogram metropolis (1st phase) with Taka 3,808.59 crore, Hard waste collection and disposal management of Narayanganj City Corporation, 1st Revised, with Taka 345.91 crore, Canal excavation from Bahaddarhat Baroipara to Karnaphuli River, 1st Revised, with Taka 1,256.16 crore, Safe drinking water supply and sanitation for tea garden workers with Taka 62.14 crore, Sylhet Osmani International Airport Extension (1st phase) with Taka 2,309.79 crore, Upazila and Union land office construction (6th phase), 1st Revised, with Taka 746.78 crore, Construction of Investment Board Building (Currently Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building construction, 2nd Revised, with Taka 198.02 crore, Establishment of 11 modern fire service and civil defense stations with Taka 629.74 crore, Construction of multi-storey building for the government offices in Madaripur, 1st Revised, with Taka 83.07 crore, Development of selected nine government colleges with Taka 629.74 crore, Infrastructural development of Sheikh Russell High School, Sadar Gopalganj and Sher-e-Bangla Girls’ College, Sutrapur, Dhaka with Taka 71.02 crore.
The remaining approved projects are Establishment of one engineering college each at Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions with Taka 1,222.39 crore, Establishment of Shaheed Kamruzzaman Textiles Institute, Manda, 1st Revised, with Taka 156.77 crore, Establishment of Bhola Textiles Institute, 2nd Revised, with Taka 105.69 crore, Enhancing (Obhijanik) capacity of RAB forces with Taka 1,033.98 crore, Enhancing capacity of Joyeeta Foundation with Taka 262.99 crore, Power distribution system development under DPDC area with Taka 1,957.34 crore, Construction of Sonagazi 500 MW solar power plant with Taka 746.76 crore, Seed certification operations strengthening project with Taka 78.38 crore, Construction of residential flats for the government officials and employees at 36 abandoned houses in Chattogram with Taka 1,131.86 crore, Establishment of special types of pontoon with related facilities with Taka 162.71 crore, Rural infrastructures development of greater Rajshahi district (Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj), 1st Revised, with Taka 623.27 crore, Rural infrastructures development of greater Noakhali district, 2nd Revised (Noakhali, Feni and Laxmipur) with Taka 740.69 crore, Bangali-Karotoa-Fulzor-Hurasagor river system dredging, re-excavation and embankment protection project with Taka 2,335.60 crore, Re-excavation of small rivers, canals and water bodies in 64 districts, 1st phase with Taka 2,279.55 crore and Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project with Taka 337.89 crore.