The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 22 development projects involving an estimated Tk 46,419.66 crore, with the modernisation and expansion of Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) emerging as the single largest and most strategic initiative aimed at boosting Bangladesh’s energy security.
The approvals came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, according to a Planning Ministry.
Of the total approved project cost, Tk 30,482.49 crore will be financed from the government exchequer, Tk 1,689.61 crore from project loans, and Tk 14,247.56 crore from the concerned organisations’ own funds. Among the approved projects, 14 are new, five are revised and three involve extensions of project tenure.
Under the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, ECNEC cleared the Tk 35,465.15 crore “Modernisation and Expansion of Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL)” project, which will be implemented in the Patenga area of Chattogram between December 2025 and November 2030. The project will be financed through a Tk 21,277.59 crore government loan and Tk 14,187.56 crore from ERL’s own resources.
Planning Commission officials said the ERL project aims to double the refinery’s crude oil processing capacity to 3 million metric tonnes per year, enabling the country to meet around 45–50 per cent of national demand for petroleum products. The upgraded refinery will produce Euro-5 standard environment-friendly fuels, reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products and help save foreign exchange.
Alongside the ERL initiative, ECNEC approved three projects under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, including a connecting road from the Karnaphuli Tunnel (Anwara) to the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway, upgrading the Hili-Dugdugi-Ghoraghat national highway in Dinajpur, and land acquisition and utility relocation for the four-laning of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway with service lanes.
The Housing and Public Works Ministry received approval for a revised project to construct 672 residential flats in eight 15-storey buildings for government officers and employees at Aliganj in Narayanganj.
Five projects were cleared under the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry, including the establishment of the Dhaka WASA Training and Research Academy, waterlogging mitigation and safe water supply in Sylhet City Corporation, the Climate Resilient and Livelihood Enhancement Project (CRALEP), rural infrastructure development in Patuakhali, and widening and strengthening of key upazila and union roads in the Sylhet division.
Under the Defence Ministry, ECNEC approved revised infrastructure development of the Mongla Commander Flotilla West and the construction of infrastructure for the Army Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Savar.
In the social sector, approvals were given for the revised reconstruction of the Destitute Children Training and Rehabilitation Centre at Konabari in Gazipur and the Education and Research Capacity Building project of the National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research (NIANER).
The committee also cleared two projects under the Education Ministry—development of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University and the third revision of the Bangladesh University of Professionals development project.
Four water resources projects were approved, covering sustainable water management of the Karnaphuli River and its linked rivers in Rangamati, rehabilitation of the Ganges-Kobadak irrigation project, flood control and integrated water resources management in the Surma-Kushiyara river basin, and the second revision of the Disaster Risk Management Enhancement Project.
Additionally, ECNEC approved the Sustainable Agricultural Development project in the Bogura agricultural region and the second-phase Darul Arqam Islamic education management and consolidation project under the Religious Affairs Ministry.
The ECNEC meeting was also informed about 10 projects earlier approved by the Planning Adviser. Advisers concerned, Planning Commission members and secretaries of relevant ministries attended the meeting.