Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today once again directedthe deputy commissioners (DCs) across the country to stay at their respective official residences with families.

Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League came up with the directives at a meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) held at the Planning Ministry office in Dhaka this noon.

While talking to reporters after the meeting,Planning Minister MA Mannan informed the journalists about the prime minister’s directives.

Earlier during the DCs conference in 2016, the Premier also came up with the similar directive to make sure that the DCs’ family members stay with them at their respective official residences.

Today, the ECNEC approved seven projects with an estimated cost of Tk 18,191 crore.

Of the total cost, Tk 6,622 crore will come from the government fund, while Tk 11,569 crore from project loans, said a press release of planning ministry.

ECNEC approved the projects in a meeting at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Dhaka with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The approved projects are the conversion of Akhaura-Sylhet Meter Gauge Section of Bangladesh Railway into dual gauge, construction of Chattogram Hill Tracts Regional Parishad Complex, Expansion of Magura-Sripur district highway including straightening of curves, Construction of new office building and auditorium of Khulna Divisional Commissioner, construction of the Indian Economic Zone at Mirsharai in Chattogram , Installation of safe and healthy dry fish processing and indoor farming research related facilities at the Dhaka and Chattogram centers of BCSIR, river erosion conservation project of Brahmaputra river in Kurigram district's Rowmari upazila and Rajibpur upazila sadar.

Planning Minister MA Mannan, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam, Education Minister Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malik, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and other ministers of the cabinet were present in the meeting among others.