PM to visit Dinajpur tomorrow to inaugurate canal excavation programme
The prime minister will virtually inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme simultaneously by re-excavating a 12-kilometre canal at the Balrampur Sahapara area in Dinajpur.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Dinajpur tomorrow (16 March) to inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme.
He will reach Saidpur Airport by air from the capital city tomorrow morning, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told TBS this morning (15 March).
Later, he will leave Saidpur Airport for the Balrampur Sahapara area in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district by road to launch the programme.
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The prime minister will virtually inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme simultaneously by re-excavating a 12-kilometre canal at the Balrampur Sahapara area in Dinajpur.
In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in 54 districts across the country.
On the same day, ministers, advisers, the chief whip of the Jatiya Sangsad, state ministers, whips and members of parliament will inaugurate the programme simultaneously in the remaining districts.
After the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister will visit the Faridpur graveyard in Dinajpur district town.
He will visit the graves of his grandfather, Md Iskander Majumder, grandmother, Taiba Majumder and aunt Khurshid Jahan Haque and close relatives at the Faridpur graveyard.
Meanwhile, the local BNP leaders, workers and activists, and people from all walks of life in Dinajpur have expressed enthusiasm, centring the prime minister's visit there.
The authorities concerned have completed all kinds of preparations in this connection.
The nationwide initiative is expected to play an important role in improving irrigation facilities by making the best use of conserved surface water, boosting agricultural production and creating employment opportunities for rural people.
It will also help increase the availability of surface water, reduce dependence on groundwater and strengthen water management, which is expected to contribute to mitigating drought, floods and waterlogging in different parts of the country related sources have said.
Earlier, after inspecting the Sahapara-Balarampur canal on Friday afternoon (13 March), Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain said nearly 350,000 people would benefit from the excavation of the approximately 12-kilometre canal in Sahapara.
He said the project would help protect the area from excessive flooding and ensure irrigation during the dry season.
Zahid Hossain added that the programme will be implemented through coordination among the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
He said the initiative will not be limited to excavation, as plans also include canal bank protection, dam construction and tree plantation. Arrangements will also be made to use the canal water scientifically to increase agricultural production and improve the economic condition of local residents.
