Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee told the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has taken a plan to excavate and re-excavate around 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country within the next five years.
He made the disclosure on Thursday while replying to a starred tabled question from treasury bench member Mohammad Shamim Kaiser (Gaibandha-4) in Parliament. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal was in the chair.
The minister said canal excavation and re-excavation work is underway in different districts under a nationwide programme covering rivers, canals, sanctuaries and other water bodies, in line with the government’s election manifesto.
He added that under the government’s 180-day action plan, ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Agriculture will complete excavation and re-excavation of 1,204 kilometres of canals across the country by June 2026.
He said, “In addition, a total of 20,000 kilometres of canals will be excavated and re-excavated over the next five years through ongoing and new projects.”
The minister further informed 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 being implemented in Gaibandha district under the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
He added that a large-scale canal excavation project is also under formulation at the Ministry of Water Resources.
