ECNEC approves Sheikh Hasina Nakshipalli, Jamalpur project

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved the ‘Sheikh Hasina Nakshipalli, Jamalpur (1st phase) Project’ involving Taka 722 crore in a bid to enhance the civic facilities of the Nakshi entrepreneurs, handloom and handicraft workers there.

With ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 6 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 2,650.75 crore. “The entire project cost will come from the state exchequer”. All the approved six projects are new projects.

The Planning Minister said that the Sheikh Hasina Nakshipalli will be set up on 300 acres of land situated at Jamalpur Sadar and Melandhoho upazilas with all necessary facilities.

Bangladesh Handloom Board under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute will implement the project by December 2021.

Mannan said the project aims to alleviate poverty and improve the living standards of the Nakshi and handloom workers of those areas side by side ensuring sustainable development of the Nakshi industry.

He said that Nakshikathas have bright prospects in abroad and once the project is implemented, the handloom and Nakshi workers would be facilitated to a great extent.

According to the Planning Commission, Nakshikatha is commonly known as the brand of Jamalpur and some 300 Nakshi entrepreneurs are producing their products in all upazilas in the district including Bakshiganj, Dewanganj, Madarganj, Islampur, Melandhoho and sadar upazilas.

Some 261 handloom families live in Jamalpur and Sherpur districts while there are also some 76 Nakshi entrepreneurs and 3,985 Nakshi artists in Sherpur.

Since the Nakshi and handloom workers in those areas are passing their days in difficulty like financial hardship, marketing problem and lack of patronization, the Ministry moved the project proposal and thus it got ECNEC approval.

The main project operations include some 300 acres of Land acquisition, necessary land development, installing water supply system and construction of boundary walls.

The Planning Minister said the implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) during the July-February period of the current fiscal year (FY19) reached 39.13 percent with an expenditure of Taka 70,772 crore.

The ADP implementation rate during the July-February period of the last fiscal year (FY18) totaled 38.01 percent with an expenditure of Taka 62,372 crore.

Referring to the approval of Upgradation of Government Employees Hospital to 500-bed Project with Taka 379.96 crore, the Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting asked the authorities concerned to make the design of the hospital building much more modern having a good waste management system with the incorporation of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP).

Besides, the Premier directed the implementing agency to keep a food court at the basement of the Hospital.

The Prime Minister also directed the authorities concerned to consider keeping separate places for the doctors in all hospitals of the country to continue their practices.

Besides, she also suggested for keeping day-care centers at the hospitals side by side keeping separate blocks for the kidney, heart, cancer and paralyzed patients at the hospitals.

She also encouraged the authorities concerned to come up with projects for promoting research and boosting production of local fruits.

The other projects approved in the meeting are Upgrading specific portion of Barishal-Bhola-Laxmipur Highway into due standard and width with Taka 312.48 crore, Development of Shariatpur (Monohorbazar)-Ibrahimpur Ferryghat Road with Taka 859.63 crore, Upgrading Nilphamari Domar Road, Boda- Debiganj Road and Phulbari-Parbatipur Road into due standard and width with Taka 250.24 crore, Extension, management and production increase of citrus fruits with Taka 126.44 crore.

Source: bss