DHAKA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's highest economic policy-making body has approved 16 development projects worth 962.34 billion taka (about 11.46 billion U.S. dollars).

The projects were approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Planning Minister Mustafa Kamal told journalists that the projects include a 383.97 billion taka education project to strengthen the country's primary education system.

He said 12 projects are new while the rest four are revised projects.

Of the total project cost, according to the minister, 526.85 billion taka will come from the national exchequer, some 3.28 billion taka from organizations' respective fund and 432.21 billion taka from project assistance. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 84 Bangladeshi taka)