Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury on Monday said canal excavation was one of the key commitments in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) election manifesto.
He added that the government plans to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years.
He made the remarks while inaugurating the canal excavation programme at Narayanpur under Binodpur union in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura district as part of a nationwide initiative to excavate and re-excavate rivers, canals and water bodies.
Minister said that late President Ziaur Rahman had launched the canal excavation programme in 1976 to revitalise agriculture and the rural economy.
“Following that vision, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals nationwide over the next five years,” he said.
He added that canals that have been encroached upon in Magura district would be reclaimed and gradually excavated and re-excavated for preservation.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally launched the nationwide programme by inaugurating canal excavation work in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district, covering 54 districts in the first phase.
The minister said the canal excavation initiative had already turned into a nationwide campaign.
He also said 37,567 beneficiaries have so far received ‘Family Cards’ across the country, while honorariums are being provided to imams, muezzins, khadems, priests, sebaits and Buddhist monastery leaders.
He added that distribution of ‘Agriculture Cards’ would begin on April 14, enabling farmers to purchase fertiliser, seeds and other inputs at subsidised rates. The government has also waived Tk 10,000 in agricultural loans, he said.
The minister warned that the government would maintain zero tolerance against terrorism, drugs, corruption, extortion and land grabbing, regardless of political affiliation.
The programme was chaired by Magura Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Abdullah Al Mahmud. Among others, Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman, Magura Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Sarwar Jahan Sujan, Magura Press Club President Prof Md Saidur Rahman and BNP leader Mithun Roy Chowdhury also spoke at the event.
Officials said 0.955 kilometres of canal will be excavated in Mohammadpur out of a total of 2.870 kilometres, at a cost of about Tk 939,328, with completion expected by May 15, 2026.
Later in the afternoon, he also inaugurated the excavation of the 2.40-kilometre Hatiyara canal in Narail Sadar upazila under the same nationwide programme.
SMS/AM
