PM to inaugurate nationwide canal excavation programme on Monday

Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman will inaugurate a nationwide programme on Monday to excavate and re-excavate canals, rivers, and water bodies in 54 districts, aiming to improve irrigation, boost agricultural production, and strengthen water management.

The PM will formally launch the canal excavation at Shahpara Canal in Kaharul upazila of Dinajpur, with other ministers, advisers, state ministers, and members of parliament simultaneously inaugurating the work in the remaining 53 districts.

The Ministry of Water Resources has already begun excavation and restoration work across the country in coordination with the agriculture, local government, and disaster management and relief ministry.

In line with its election manifesto, the BNP-led government plans to excavate and restore 20,000 kilometres of canals over the next five years, and it pledges to complete visible work on 1,000 kilometres of canals within the first 180 days.

Besides improved irrigation, the programme is also expected to contribute to mitigating drought and waterlogging in different parts of the country.

Previously, under President Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh undertook a major canal restoration in the late 1970s, when nearly 2,000 miles of canals were excavated and re-excavated, helping boost agricultural production and food security.

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