The Bangladesh Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 23 November 2021 endorsed two projects under the Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement Program (WeCARE) Phase 1—Rural Connectivity, Market and Logistic Infrastructure Improvement Project (RCMLIIP) and the Jhenidah-Jessore Highway (N-7) Development project.

RCMLIIP aims to improve socioeconomic conditions by increasing facilities for transport, supply, marketing, and the preservation of agricultural products by improving the rural transport network.

The projects were approved along with five others during the ECNEC meeting chaired by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina via video conference from Ganabhaban.

According to Mr. Mamun Al Rashid, member, Bangladesh Planning Commission, the two projects would improve the communication network of Benapole, Asian Highway, including Bhomra Land Port and Mongla Sea Port, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Highway Corridor, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Road Corridor, and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Corridor with the northwestern region of the country.

The Roads and Highways Department will execute the projects by December 2023.

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