<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities to speedily repair the embankments damaged by cyclone Remal in the coastal areas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>"The damaged embankments must be repaired speedily as monsoon is approaching," she was quoted as telling the meeting, according to a media briefing by Planning Minister Abdus Salam.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina made this directive while chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Prime Minister also directed for ensuring safe water in the cyclone-affected areas so that water-borne diseases could not spread.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdus Salam said the prime minister monitored the cyclone situation throughout the night and issued necessary directives to the relevant agencies for tackling the situation.</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, Planning Division Senior Secretary Satyajit Karmakar, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were also present at the briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>Planning Secretary Satyajit Karmakar said the Ecnec meeting approved 11 development projects involving a total of Tk 14,337 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>“The total estimated cost of 11 projects approved in the meeting is Tk 14,337.38 crore (only additional costs of revised projects were counted here),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the cost, Tk 6,541.52 crore&nbsp; will be financed from the national exchequer, while Tk 7,879.15 crore from the foreign sources and the remaining Tk 83.29 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>