Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved 24 projects, including one to set up 23 polytechnic institutes in different districts across the country.

The approval came from the weekly Ecnec meeting held at NEC conference room here with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, reports the UNB.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said, ‘Twenty-four projects were approved today involving an overall cost of Tk 24,740.66 crore.’

Of the total estimated cost, he said, Tk 19,361.96 crore will come from the national exchequer, while Tk 5,072.66 crore as project assistance and Tk 306.04 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned.

Nineteen of the projects are new while five others are revised ones.

About the polytechnic institute project, the minister said the Technical and Madrasah Education Division will implement the ‘Establishment of Polytechnic Institutes in 23 Districts Project’ by June 2021 with an estimated cost of Tk 3,691.30 crore.

He said the polytechnic institutes will be set up in the 23 districts where there is no government polytechnic institute now.

Mustafa Kamal said there are now 49 polytechnic institutes, including four exclusively for women, across the country but there is no polytechnic institute in 23 districts.