Farhad Hossain Azad, the Minister of State for Water Resources, has assured that rivers and water bodies across the country will be swiftly reclaimed from illegal occupants.
He made the remarks on Thursday night after a meeting at the Panchagarh Circuit House.
The programme will be carried out in coordination with local people, the administration and relevant ministries, he said.
Panchagarh-2 lawmaker Farhad Hossain Azad said a similar initiative between 1977 and 1981 led to the excavation of more than 2,000 miles of canals.
That historical programme will be revived within the next fortnight, he said.
He added that a tree plantation drive would also be undertaken, taking into account prevailing climate and environmental conditions.
