ECNEC eyes BDT 20.82bn rural roads, women jobs project

July 21, 2026 (MLN): The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is expected to consider a Tk 2,082.12 crore (BDT 20.82bn) project aimed at maintaining rural roads nationwide while generating employment for tens of thousands of disadvantaged women.

The proposed Rural Road Maintenance and Employment Project, prepared by the Planning Commission, will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division through December 2029. The initiative will be fully financed by the government.

Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to chair the ECNEC meeting on Wednesday, according to APP.

According to the project proposal, the programme seeks to ensure year-round connectivity by carrying out routine maintenance on 91,560 kilometres of rural roads across 495 upazilas in all 64 districts.

It also aims to provide employment to 45,780 poor women who are heads of households, helping improve the livelihoods of an equal number of vulnerable families.

Planning Commission Member (Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division) Md. Mahmudul Hossain Khan said large-scale maintenance of LGED-managed rural roads was previously undertaken during 1983-84 and later between 2003 and 2007.

Since then, no comprehensive maintenance programme has been carried out, prompting the preparation of the new nationwide initiative.

He described the project as a women-focused employment programme that would not only preserve rural transport infrastructure but also contribute to women's economic empowerment.

Officials said Bangladesh's rural economy relies heavily on an efficient road network for transporting agricultural and non-agricultural goods. Maintaining rural roads is therefore considered essential for ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, supporting market access and promoting rural economic activity.

The proposed project builds on earlier road maintenance programmes that began in 1983 as a pilot initiative in seven unions with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through CARE Bangladesh.

programme was later expanded nationwide with European Union assistance and subsequently continued through multiple phases of the Rural Employment and Road Maintenance Programme (RERMP), with the most recent phase implemented by LGED between 2019 and 2024 using government funds.

Based on the outcomes of previous programmes, the Local Government Division has proposed the new initiative to sustain rural road infrastructure, facilitate the movement of farm and non-farm products, expand employment opportunities for poor women and improve living standards in rural communities.

Project locations have been selected using indicators including the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI), Poverty Index and Environmental Hazard Index, with priority given to areas requiring better rural connectivity and enhanced social protection.

The Planning Commission noted that the project supports the government's election commitments related to poverty alleviation, agricultural development, nationwide employment generation and last-mile connectivity. It is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

A feasibility study conducted by Ideal Design & Consultancy endorsed the project's implementation, and its recommendations have been incorporated into the Development Project Proposal (DPP).

Although a formal financial cost-benefit analysis was not conducted due to the service-oriented nature of the project, the Planning Commission said the proven performance of previous RERMP initiatives indicates that the programme is expected to deliver substantial socio-economic benefits.

The proposed expenditure includes Tk 522.89 crore in FY2026-27, Tk 519.31 crore in FY2027-28, Tk 518.65 crore in FY2028-29 and Tk 520.75 crore in FY2029-30, alongside a nominal allocation in FY2025-26.

The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) recommended the project for approval after revising the implementation timeline, rationalising procurement and operational costs, ensuring compliance with public procurement regulations, preparing an exit strategy for post-project maintenance and avoiding overlap with other development initiatives.

The Planning Commission has recommended that ECNEC approve the Tk 2,082.12 crore project for implementation through December 2029, saying it will strengthen rural connectivity, improve market access, create employment for 45,780 disadvantaged women and support poverty reduction across Bangladesh.

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