Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said Cumilla will be made a division if that reflects the wishes of the people.
He made the remarks at a roadside rally in Cumilla on Saturday while travelling to Chandpur, where he later inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Khorddo canal in Shahrasti upazila.
The canal was originally excavated in 1978 under the initiative of former president Ziaur Rahman.
Speaking at another roadside gathering in Mudafarganj in Laksam earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman also announced plans to expand the government’s family card programme.
He said the upcoming national budget would include a significantly larger allocation for the scheme and that 50 lakh women across the country would receive family cards within the next year.
After travelling by road from Dhaka via Cumilla, the prime minister reached the Khorddo canal project site at Waruk Bazar in Tamta South union around 2:40pm and inaugurated the programme by unveiling a plaque.
He later cut soil with a spade on the canal bank and planted a sapling there.
“If this canal is not excavated, our farmer brothers will not get water. Once the canal is re-excavated, they will benefit,” he said.
Later in the afternoon, Tarique inaugurated the re-excavation of Bishwo canal near Ghosher Hat in Shahmahmudpur union under Chandpur Sadar upazila and planted another sapling on the canal bank.
He said the government was focusing on practical development plans aimed at improving living standards rather than “only dreaming about change”.
“We do not just want to dream. We want to implement plans that will benefit people, move the country forward and change people’s lives,” he said.
Calling for national unity, Tarique urged people from all walks of life to work together to rebuild the country and reform state institutions.
“From today, let our only mission be nation-building and state reconstruction. Let this be our commitment,” he said.
He said Bangladesh could become a respected nation globally if the country’s people worked together.
“If 40 crore hands of 20 crore people work together, Insha’Allah, we will be able to build Bangladesh into a respected state in the world,” he said.
The prime minister also said the government would gradually implement the commitments made before the election.
“BNP always tries to fulfil the commitments it makes to people whenever it is in office,” he said.
Describing people as the source of BNP’s strength, Tarique said the party’s work for the country would continue as long as it had public support.
Education Minister Anam Ehsanul Haque Milon, Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu and local leaders attended the programmes.
Thousands of leaders, activists and supporters gathered along both sides of the canal to welcome the prime minister.
