Mongla port to get new waste disposal infrastructure
The project at cost of Tk401.24 crore will help improve the environment of not only the Mongla port, but also of the Poshur Channel and Sundarbans
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved a project for setting up necessary infrastructure to clean up leaked oil and other liquid waste from ships visiting the Mongla port.
The project at a cost of Tk401.24 crore will help improve the environment of not only the Mongla port, but also of the Poshur Channel and Sundarbans. It will also speed up the cleanup operation of oil spills from sunken fuel carrying vessels in the region.
The approval came at an Ecnec meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday. Planning Minister MA Mannan then presented further details at a media briefing.
"Ecnec approved a total of nine projects involving Tk4611.62 crore at the meeting. Of the amount, Tk4366.12 crore will come from the government exchequer. The remaining Tk245.5 crore will be provided by the project implementing organisation," said the minister.
MA Mannan added that the prime minister has instructed the authorities concerned to take an initiative for releasing development bond to ease the funding process of development projects.
"The bond will be used to fund large projects. The Bangladesh Bank has already taken an initiative in this regard," he said.
MA Mannan stated that the prime minister has reiterated her directive to the authorities concerned to cancel examinations up to class three, and to take necessary action for evaluating the necessity of Primary Education Completion exams for class five.
The Ecnec also approved a project to train more than one lakh drivers with an aim to collect an additional Tk3,240 crore in remittance per annum from Saudi Arabia. The project has a budget of Tk267.35 crore.
The project duration of Leather Industrial Park in Savar was extended for the eighth time. The project initially had a duration of three years, but has rolled into 17 years. In the fourth amendment of the project, the cost has been set at TK1015.56 crore.
The project was launched in 2003 with a cost of Tk175.75 crore.
The government also okayed the construction of a container and bulk container terminal, just eight kilometres away from the Pangaon Inland Container Depot – the full capacity of which is not currently being used.
The project, amounting to Tk392 crore, will be implemented to ease transportation of goods through waterways from Chattogram and Mongla ports to Narayanganj.