Dinajpur: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate a nationwide programme tomorrow morning to excavate and re-excavate rivers, canals, and water bodies aimed at improving irrigation, boosting agricultural production, and strengthening water management. The Prime Minister will formally launch excavation of 53 canals across the country by initiating the excavation work of a canal at Kaharole upazila in Dinajpur district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly stated that the premier will visit Dinajpur district tomorrow to inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme. He mentioned that Tarique Rahman will travel to Saidpur Airport by air from the capital city in the morning and then proceed to the Balrampur Sahapara area in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district by road to launch the programme.
Saidpur Political District BNP President Abdul Gafur Sarker confirmed that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the nationwide excavation and re-excavation of 53 canals simultaneously by opening re-excavation work of a 12-kilometer canal at the Balrampur Sahapara area in Dinajpur. Following the inauguration, the premier will address a rally there.
Abdul Gafur added that after the inauguration ceremony, Tarique Rahman will visit the Faridpur graveyard in Dinajpur district town and offer ziarat at the graves of his grandfather late Md Iskander Majumder, grandmother late Taiba Majumder, aunt Khurshid Jahan Haque (Chocolate), and other close relatives. Later, the premier will participate in an iftar with local dignitaries and political leaders.
The government has initiated the canal re-excavation programme as part of the BNP’s election promise. Many canals, originally dug during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, have now been filled in. The re-excavation aims to facilitate the irrigation system, fish farming, duck farming, and strengthen the canal-dependent economy.
After inspecting the Sahapara-Balrampur canal on Friday afternoon, Women and Child Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain noted that the excavation of this 12-kilometer-long canal in Sahapara will benefit approximately 350,000 people. It will provide protection from additional floods and offer irrigation facilities during the dry season.
Dr Zahid further explained that the programme will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the BADC. In addition to excavation, canal bank protection, dam construction, and tree plantation programmes will be undertaken. Arrangements will be made for scientific use of the canal water to increase agricultural production and improve the economic condition of the local population.