
BHANDARIA , PIROJPUR, 16 Mar: State Minister for Housing and Public Works, Ahmad Sohel Manzoor, MP, has said that canal excavation projects in Bangladesh were halted due to neglect and political reasons, but the government has now begun restoring key canals across the country in line with its election pledges.
Speaking at the inauguration of the re-excavation of Mollar Canal near Bhubenshwar Bridge in Bhandaria , Pirojpur, the minister said the excavation programme is closely linked to the country's agricultural system. He noted that many canals had been filled in or encroached upon when excavation was neglected, and these will now be restored to boost crop production, maintain environmental balance, and improve water drainage.
He also said that in line with government election pledges, various social programmes are being rolled out in phases, including the Farmer Card programme, which will begin on 14 April.
The ceremony was presided over by DC Abu Saeed and attended by SP Mohammad Monzur Ahmed Siddiqui, Supervising Engineer of Barishal Water Development Board Partha Promit Saha, and UNO (Acting) Ujjal Haldar, among others.