Bangladesh plans to excavate and re-excavate around 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years, Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has told Parliament.
The minister made the announcement on Thursday while responding to a starred question from treasury bench member Mohammad Shamim Kaiser in the Jatiya Sangsad, with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal presiding.
Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said the initiative is part of the government’s election manifesto and is being implemented through a nationwide programme covering rivers, canals, sanctuaries and other water bodies.
He said ongoing efforts under the government’s 180-day action plan aim to complete excavation and re-excavation of 1,204 kilometres of canals by June 2026. These works are being carried out by the Ministry of Water Resources, the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Agriculture.
“In addition, a total of 20,000 kilometres of canals will be excavated and re-excavated over the next five years through both ongoing and new projects,” he said.
The minister added that the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will re-excavate and rehabilitate around 1,500 kilometres of canals by June 2026 under Kabikha, Kabita and TR programmes.
He also said three canal re-excavation projects are currently under way in Gaibandha district, supervised by the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee noted that a large-scale canal excavation project is also being prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources as part of the broader plan to improve water management and infrastructure nationwide.
