Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury on Monday inaugurated a canal re-excavation project in Magura, highlighting the government’s focus on water management as a key driver of national development.
The minister attended the launch of work on the Narayanpur Canal at Binodpur Union under Mohammadpur Upazila in the district at around 11:30am.
Speaking at the event, he said the canal excavation initiative is being treated as a top priority to accelerate the country’s socio-economic progress.
“Ensuring proper water flow in canals will allow farmers to access irrigation easily, which in turn will boost agricultural output and strengthen rural livelihoods,” he noted.
Advocate Nitai Roy also recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had initiated a nationwide canal excavation programme to stimulate development, and the present government has revived the initiative with similar objectives.
He added that the government plans to excavate and re-excavate all canals in the country over the next five years.
The minister emphasised that the government, operating without a large public mandate, has no room for failure and is closely working with local communities to achieve its goals.
He also underscored efforts to combat crime, corruption, illegal sand mining, market manipulation and online gambling.
Magura Deputy Commissioner Md Abdullah Al Mahmud presided over the programme.
Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman, District Executive Engineer Mohammad Sarowar Jahan Sujan, Sub-Divisional Engineer Murad Hossain, and Mohammadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Shahinur Zaman, among others, were also present at that time.
Officials from the Water Development Board said Magura has over 150 canals, with plans to re-excavate 16 of them by June. The programme began with a 955-metre stretch of the Narayanpur Canal.
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