The Prime Minister will inaugurate the canal excavation program on Monday

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate a nationwide canal excavation program tomorrow, Monday. He will launch the excavation of 53 canals across the country from Kaharole Upazila in Dinajpur.

The Prime Minister's Press Secretary, Saleh Shibli, confirmed the matter to BSS on Sunday (March 15). He stated that the Prime Minister will arrive at Saidpur Airport from the capital by air tomorrow morning and will then travel to Dinajpur by road.

Earlier, during the inauguration of an honorarium distribution program for Imams and Muazzins at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital yesterday, the Prime Minister announced, "The canal excavation program will commence from Dinajpur on March 16."

Abdul Gafur Sarkar, President of the Nilphamari Saidpur Political District BNP, stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will arrive at Saidpur Airport at 9:00 AM on Monday. From there, he will head towards Dinajpur.

Upon reaching Dinajpur, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the nationwide program by launching the re-excavation of a 12-kilometer canal at Balarampur Sahapara in Kaharole Upazila. He is also scheduled to address a public rally there.

Abdul Gafur Sarkar added that following the inauguration, the Prime Minister will visit the Faridpur Cemetery in Dinajpur city. There, he will offer prayers (Ziarat) at the graves of his maternal grandfather, the late Md. Iskandar Majumdar, maternal grandmother, the late Tayyaba Majumdar, and maternal aunt, Khurshid Jahan Haque (Chocolate), among other close relatives. Later, he will participate in an Iftar with local dignitaries and political leaders.

The canal re-excavation initiative has been undertaken as part of the BNP's election pledges. Many canals originally excavated during the tenure of the late President Ziaur Rahman are currently silted up. The project aims to strengthen the canal-based economy by improving irrigation systems and promoting fish farming and duck rearing.

On Friday afternoon, after inspecting the Sahapara-Balarampur canal, the Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, stated that the excavation of this 12-kilometer canal will benefit approximately 350,000 people. It will provide protection from excessive flooding and ensure irrigation facilities during the dry season.

Stating that the program will be implemented through the coordination of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and BADC, Dr. Zahid Hossain added that the project will also include canal bank protection, embankment construction, and tree plantation. The water will be utilized scientifically to boost agricultural production and improve the local economic condition.