The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has approved three stadium development projects involving Tk 152 crore to facilitate smooth holding of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh.

The development of the stadiums is among five development projects worth Tk 584 crore which was approved by the ECNEC at its meeting at the NEC on Tuesday. Briefing reporters, the planning minister, AK Khandker, said Tk 293 crore of the total project costs would be met from national exchequer while the rest Tk 291 crore would be spent from foreign aid. The prime minister and ECNEC chairperson, Sheikh Hasina, presided over the meeting, attended by senior cabinet ministers and senior officials concerned.

The projects are maintenance and development of Bangabandhu National Stadium at a cost of Tk 31 crore to prepare the venue for the World Cup inaugural session, maintenance and development of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur at a cost of Tk 64 crore to convert it as an ICC standard stadium and maintenance and development of Narayanganj Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium (Fatulla) at a cost of Tk 57 crore to prepare it as an alternative venue of the World Cup Cricket.