PM to visit Dinajpur to inaugurate canal excavation program

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit Dinajpur District on Monday to inaugurate a nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme.

He will arrive at Saidpur Airport by air from the capital on Monday morning, the prime minister's press secretary, Saleh Shibly, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha on Sunday.

From the airport, he will travel by road to the Balrampur Sahapara area in Kaharole Upazila of Dinajpur to launch the programme.

The prime minister will virtually inaugurate the nationwide initiative while re-excavating a 12-kilometre canal at Balrampur Sahapara.

In the first phase, the project will be implemented in 54 districts across the country. On the same day, ministers, advisers, the Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad, state ministers, whips and members of parliament will launch the programme simultaneously in the remaining districts.

After the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister will visit the Faridpur graveyard in the Dinajpur district town.

During the visit, he will pay respects at the graves of his grandfather, the late Md Iskander Majumder; his grandmother, the late Taiba Majumder; his aunt Khurshid Jahan Haque (Chocolate); and other close relatives.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s visit has generated considerable enthusiasm among leaders, activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, as well as farmers and people from different walks of life in Dinajpur. Authorities concerned said all necessary preparations for the visit have been completed.

The nationwide initiative is expected to help improve irrigation facilities by making better use of conserved surface water, boost agricultural production and create employment opportunities for rural communities.

It is also expected to increase the availability of surface water, reduce reliance on groundwater and strengthen water management, contributing to efforts to mitigate drought, flooding and waterlogging in different parts of the country.