Each MP to select six madrassahs for development

The executive committee of the National Economic Council at a meeting on Tuesday approved a project to improve infrastructure of 2000 madrashas at a cost of Tk 5,918.63 crore.
Each lawmaker would select six madrassahs in the respective constituency for the project, approved at the meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the Planning Commission ahead of the national election likely to be held in December.
Briefing reporters, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal also said that some madrassahs would be selected under special consideration.
In January, each of the lawmakers, under a Tk 10,649 crore project, received funds for the construction and extension of 10 school buildings in the respective constituencies, said planning ministry officials.
Directorate of Madrassah Education and Education Engineering Department under Technical and Madrassah Education Division will implement the madrassah improvement project by 2021.
Planning Commission officials said that the directorate placed the project proposal in April following demand by member of parliament for renovation of the dilapidated madrassah buildings in their constituencies.
The country has 9,314 madrassahs offering Dakhil and Kamil degrees to about 38.32 lakh students, they said.
According to the project proposal, five-storey building of the selected madrassahs will have the facility of imparting information and communication technology education with computer lab. 
Besides, new furniture would be procured and modern sanitation facility would be established under the project.
Mustafa Kamal said that the meeting approved 18 projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 17,786.95 crore.
Of the project cost, Tk 13,813.44 crore will come from the government, Tk 42.62 crore from the organisation’s own fund while the rest of Tk 3,930.89 crore from project assistance, he added.
He said that the meeting approved urban primary health care service delivery project at a cost Tk 1,136 crore for ensuring medical service to rural women during the maternity period.
Other projects include the rural transport improvement project at the cost of Tk 4,819 crore, power supply improvement project in Chittagong at the cost of Tk 1,421 crore, conservation of historic central jail in Old Dhaka at the cost of Tk 607.36 crore, construction of mausoleum in memory of freedom fighters and conservation of mass slaughtering places at the cost of Tk 442.10 crore and improvement of Barishal rural infrastructure at the cost of Tk 920 crore.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net