Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has said that nationwide canal excavation will help remove illegal structures built on canals, as the government prioritises the work in line with its election pledges.
He said canal excavation remains a key and highly important commitment of the government and is being carried out in the public interest.
The minister made the remarks on Thursday afternoon while speaking to journalists at the Chandpur Circuit House.
Earlier, he visited a proposed site at Shah Mahmudpur Union under Sadar upazila, where the inauguration of a global canal excavation programme is scheduled for 16 May.
He said canals across the country still exist in their natural locations. If anyone builds illegal structures on them, those must be removed.
Anee said legal measures will be taken where required. He added that some legal complications may arise during eviction drives, but those will be addressed through district and local administrations.
“Our goal is noble. We want to build a new Bangladesh with renewed spirit. Everyone’s cooperation is essential for this,” he said.
Referring to past initiatives, the minister said late President Ziaur Rahman had launched a canal excavation programme as a movement.
He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, as his successor, has already inaugurated such activities in several areas of the country, while local representatives and ministers have also begun similar work in different districts.
Anee said a nationwide momentum has developed around canal excavation, and people are already benefiting from it.
He further said the programme remained neglected for many years, as no government took proper initiative. As a result, land along canals was encroached upon and waste accumulated inside them. He described these as clear cases of illegal occupation.
Chandpur-3 MP Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, Chandpur-4 MP M A Hannan, former MP Harunur Rashid, Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ziaur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Md Rabiul Hasan, District Council Administrator Advocate Salim Ullah Selim and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer SMN Jamiul Hikma, among other officials, were present.
Later, the minister addressed a preparatory meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Chandpur on 16 May.
