The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved the construction of ‘Bhumi Bhaban Complex’ involving Tk 139.96 crore, aiming to smoothly provide land-related better services to common people by bringing various land offices in the capital under one complex.Under the project, a 13-storey building having the foundation of a 20-storey one and two basements will be set up on the Land Record and Survey Department premises in the capital’s Tejgaon area as a ‘one stop service centre’.
The approval came from the 16th Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of five projects were approved today with an overall outlay of Tk 759.12 crore. “Of the total project cost, Tk 726.72 crore will come from the national exchequer while Tk 32.40 crore as project assistance.”
All the approved five projects are new ones, he said.
The Planning Minister said the use of land will be much more important in the coming days with the fast growing industrialisation and urbanisation while there is a need for reforms of different land-related institutions like Land Reform Board, Land Appeal Board, Land Record and Survey Department and Land Administration Training Centre.
He said the building will be a complex type and once it is constructed, it will help reduce the hassles of service seekers to a great extent.
With the establishment of ‘one stop service centre’, the Planning Minister, said there will be a marked improvement in land management.
The Land Record and Survey Department under the Ministry of Land along with the Department of Public Works will implement the project by June 2018.
The Ecnec meeting also approved the ‘Participatory Rural Development Project (PRDP) 3rd phase with Tk 231.67 crore to utilise local resources as well as help increase the skills and efficiency of some 600 union parishads for formulating local development plans.
The PRDP 3 project has been undertaken based on the success of the PRDP 2 project implemented from July 2010 to June 2015 at 200 unions under 85 upazilas of all the 64 districts. Bangladesh Rural Development Board will implement the PRDP3 project by June 2020.
The Ecnec meeting also gave nod to the construction of rubber dam for utilising surface water to boost agricultural production’ involving Tk 172 crore to be implemented by BADC by June 2020.
The project will be implemented in eight upazilas — Lohagara and Anwara upazilas in Chittagong, Chokoria and Ramu upazilas in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban Sadar, Naikhongchhari in Bandarban, Doarabazar in Sunamganj and Bahubal in Habiganj.
With the implementation of the project, Mustafa Kamal said, it will be possible to bring some 11,150 hectares of land under irrigation and thus boost annual food production by additional 50,175 metric tonnes through better irrigation management and use of modern technology.
The other projects approved at the meeting are expansion and modernisation of Mymensingh Central Jail with Tk 127.13 crore, grooming women entrepreneurs with Tk 88.36 crore.
Replying to a question, the Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting has directed the authorities concerned to install solar panels at the Bhumi Bhabhan Complex and at the Jail.
Besides, she directed for making separate arrangements for female inmates and prisoners alongside separate arrangement for mentally sick prisoners at the jail.
The Planning Minister also informed that the Ecnec meeting was also apprised about a project titled ‘Showcasing Bangladesh’ in a bid to digitally project the development activities of the government before common people with Tk 14 crore.
Under the project, he said, LED display boards will be set up at crowded places in the capital like in front of the NAM Bhaban, Suhrawardy Udyan, Bahadur Shah Park, Kamalapur Railway Station and Lunch Terminals.
Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting. Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.
