Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inaugurated the canal excavation programme in Dinajpur on Monday.
Around 12:30pm, he launched the excavation of 53 canals across the country simultaneously through the excavation of a canal at Sahapara in Balrampur of Kaharol.
However, He will address a public rally there.
The initiative aims to revive canals originally dug during the time of former president Ziaur Rahman that have become silted over the years.
The prime minister reached Saidpur Airport in the morning by air from the capital and then travelled by road toward Dinajpur.
Following the ceremony, the prime minister will visit Faridpur Graveyard in Dinajpur town to pay respects at the graves of his maternal grandfather late Md Iskandar Majumdar, maternal grandmother late Tayyaba Majumdar, and aunt late Khurshid Jahan Haque (Chocolate).
He will then join an Iftar gathering with local dignitaries and political leaders.
Economic impact
Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, who inspected the Sahapara-Balaram canal on Friday, said approximately 350,000 people would benefit from the excavation of this single canal.
“It will provide protection from excessive flooding and offer irrigation facilities during the dry season,” he said.
The programme will be implemented through coordination between the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and BADC.
“The initiative includes not only excavation but also canal bank protection, embankment construction, and tree plantation programmes,” Hossain added.
Officials said the scientific use of canal water is expected to boost agricultural production and improve the economic condition of local people through enhanced irrigation, fish farming, and duck rearing opportunities.
