The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the project to establish “Sheikh Hasina Cantonment” at Lebukhali along the Payra River in Barisal.
The project will cost around TK 1,699 crore.
It was approved at a regular meeting at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Banglanagar with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The key objective of the project is to establish a modern cantonment with all necessary physical infrastructures in line with the “Forces Goal 2030” and strengthening national defense in the coastal areas.
Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, pointed that the southern region has no cantonment, especially in Barisal and Patuakhali, although it is needed strategically and on national security grounds.
The proposed cantonment would be set up on some 1,532 acres of land of which some 567 acres of land have already been procured under the revenue budget. So, the government needs to acquire 965 more acres of land.
This project will be implemented by the Ministry of Defense by June 2021.
Following the “Forces Goal 2030”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25, 2014, approved a proposal for setting up the cantonment at Lebukhali at the middle point of Barisal and Patuakhali.
BSS