SREEMANGAL, MOULVIBAZAR, Mar 18: Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Mohammad Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said that the implementation of canal re-excavation programmes across the country will significantly improve irrigation system and could lead to a two-to-three fold increase in agricultural production.
He made the remarks on Monday afternoon while inaugurating the re-excavation work of the Katagang Canal at Anikeli Bara area under Giasnagar Union in Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila.
The minister said that Bangladesh had previously benefited from canal excavation initiatives introduced during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. "At that time, the country made remarkable progress in food production. Agricultural output doubled, and crops including paddy were even exported abroad," he said.
He added that the programme had also boosted the production of Rabi crops and created employment opportunities in rural areas. However, he alleged that the initiative was later discontinued in a planned manner.
Referring to the current political leadership, he said that under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, canal excavation activities have been re-launched nationwide. "This will enhance irrigation facilities, increase agricultural productivity, and enable farmers to grow two to three times more crops. It will also help expand vegetable production and maintain environmental balance," he said.
Responding to local farmers' demands for irrigation using water from the Manu River, the minister said the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has already undertaken a project to channel water from the river to the canal. "Work on the project is expected to begin soon, allowing people in the area to reap its benefits," he added.
Addressing a gathering, the minister said that the canal excavation programme launched by Ziaur Rahman had once placed the country on the path to self-sufficiency. "Had the programme continued uninterrupted, Bangladesh could have achieved food self-sufficiency much earlier. But the then government shut it down," he said.
He also noted that the current government has initiated canal excavation and re-excavation activities covering around 20,000 kilometres across 54 districts, with plans to complete the programme within the next five years through coordinated efforts of various government agencies. The initiative was also included as a key component in the BNP's election manifesto, he added.
The minister further said that late former finance minister M Saifur Rahman had implemented extensive canal excavation projects in the Sylhet division, particularly in Moulvibazar district. "Many of those canals still exist today, but they require re-excavation," he said.
Reflecting on his own political career, he said M Saifur Rahman had mentored him in politics, enabling him to rise from commissioner to mayor, then to Member of Parliament, and eventually to a ministerial position.
He also recalled that Ziaur Rahman had personally taken part in canal excavation work with a spade in hand, urging students, youths, and farmers to take to the field again in the same spirit.
Among others, M Naser Rahman, DC Touhiduzzaman Pavel, SP Mohammad Billal Hossain, District Council Administrator Md Mizanur Rahman, and BADC Chief Engineer Md Badrul Alam also spoke at the event.
Sources said that under the programme, around 3.80 kilometres of the Katagang Canal will be re-excavated.
