Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated a nationwide initiative aimed at revitalizing the country’s water management infrastructure, starting with a large-scale canal excavation project in Kaharole, Dinajpur.

This ambitious program, designed to improve irrigation and bolster agricultural productivity, marks the official launch of a plan to excavate and re-excavate approximately 20,000 kilometers of rivers, canals and water bodies across the country over the next five years.

The Prime Minister officially commenced the initiative at 12:27 pm by breaking ground on the 12-kilometer-long Sahapara Canal in the Balrampur area.

Following the inauguration, he planted a tree sapling along the canal bank to promote environmental sustainability.

The event was attended by several cabinet members, including LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Social Welfare Minister Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, and State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad.

The project, which is being executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), has been launched simultaneously across 54 districts in its first phase.

This policy aligns with the government's election manifesto and serves as a continuation of the historic nationwide canal-digging efforts championed by the late President Ziaur Rahman, which proved instrumental in strengthening the rural economy and expanding irrigation coverage.

During the event, officials highlighted the long-term benefits of the Sahapara Canal project. Minister Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain noted that the excavation of this specific canal is expected to directly benefit approximately 350,000 people.

Beyond increasing water availability for agriculture during the dry season, the initiative includes comprehensive plans for bank protection, dam construction, and tree planting to provide vital flood protection.

The government plans to implement scientific water-use practices to maximize crop yields and uplift the socio-economic conditions of local farming communities.