Dinajpur: State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad announced a major government initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country as part of its river, canal, and waterbody re-excavation programme. He shared these plans while speaking to journalists after inspecting a 12-kilometre-long canal in the Balarampur Shahapara area of Kaharol upazila.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Forhad highlighted that the excavation of the canal in Kaharol upazila would bring approximately 6,000 bighas of land under improved irrigation facilities, boosting agricultural output and directly benefiting farmers. He acknowledged previous coordination challenges among different ministries regarding river and canal excavation efforts.
A recent coordination meeting involving multiple ministries resulted in a decision to form an integrated team to address these issues. Forhad also mentioned plans to implement necessary measures, such as tree planting along canal banks, to prevent re-excavated canals from silting up again.
Forhad linked the ongoing initiative to the programme started by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, emphasizing its importance in addressing climate change impacts and fulfilling agricultural water demands. Present at the briefing were Dinajpur-1 lawmaker Md. Manjurul Islam, Executive Engineer of Dinajpur Water Development Board Faruk Ahmed, Kaharol Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mokleda Khatun Mim, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Md. Moniruzzaman, and Kaharol Upazila BNP leader and former Upazila Chairman Mamunur Rashid, among others.