PM launches nationwide canal excavation programme

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated a nationwide programme aimed at excavating and re-excavating rivers, canals and other water bodies to improve irrigation systems, enhance agricultural production and strengthen water resource management.

The programme was formally launched at Balrampur in Kaharole Upazila of Dinajpur, where the Prime Minister initiated the excavation of the 12-kilometre Sahapara Canal.

He symbolically started the work at around 12:27pm by cutting soil with a spade and later planted a sapling on the canal bank.

Through this initiative, excavation work on 53 canals across the country has been launched simultaneously as part of a broader national programme.

Several cabinet members, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, AZM Zahid Hossain, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and Asadul Habib Dulu, and State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, attended the event.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister travelled from Dhaka to Syedpur Airport by air and then proceeded by road to the programme venue in Dinajpur.

According to officials, the canal excavation initiative is part of the government’s broader development agenda outlined in its election manifesto. The plan aims to excavate and re-excavate nearly 20,000 kilometres of rivers, canals, reservoirs and other water bodies across Bangladesh over the next five years.

In the first phase, work has been launched simultaneously in 54 districts, with the goal of improving irrigation systems, strengthening flood control and ensuring better water management for agriculture.

The initiative is also seen as a continuation of similar efforts undertaken during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, who introduced a nationwide canal excavation programme that contributed significantly to rural development and agricultural expansion.

Officials say the excavation of the Sahapara Canal alone is expected to benefit around 3,50,000 people in the surrounding areas. Besides improving irrigation during the dry season, the project is also expected to help reduce the risk of flash floods.

Authorities plan to implement additional measures alongside excavation work, including canal bank protection, construction of embankments and tree plantation along the canal sides.

Experts say these efforts will help ensure more efficient water use and support agricultural productivity, ultimately improving the livelihoods of local communities.