The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today passed 16 projects of Tk 5,220 crore.

The approval came from a meeting of Ecnec held in Dhaka with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The projects include a full-fledged naval base at Payra seaport for providing security to the port, movement of commercial ships and maritime institutions linked with the blue economy.

Tk 1,062 crore has been allocated for the naval base, a jetty and a hospital under the project at Ramnabad in Payra seaport which is expected to be completed by 2021.

After the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said, an initiative for setting up a modern seaport and other development projects in Payra area of Patuakhali has been taken. The naval base will be set up there to provide security to those.

According to the planning ministry proposal, about 5,000 naval staff will be deployed in the base. About 620 acres of land will be acquired there for the purpose.