Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the re-excavation work of the historic ‘Patli Khal’ (canal) in the district, a project that is closely linked to the memory of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

After arriving here from Dhaka by air this morning, the Prime Minister launched the re-excavation work of the canal at Pmkhali Union in Sadar Upazila around 10:53 am.

Despite heavy rain, Tarique Rahman proceeded from the airport to Pmkhali by road and formally launched the programme by cutting soil with a spade.

He later planted a date palm sapling on the bank of the canal.

Braving the incessant rain, thousands of residents of Patli village, irrespective of age, gathered along the canal to witness the event. Many waited for hours under umbrellas to see the Prime Minister.

As Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived at the canal site, the villagers greeted him by waving hands and chanting slogans, “Pradhanmantrir Agomon, Shubhechchha Swagatam (Welcome to the arrival of the Prime Minister)”.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar-3 constituency Lutfur Rahman Kajal, and lawmaker from Chattogram-10 constituency Sayeed Al Noman were present on the occasion.

The Patli canal is widely regarded as a historic canal. In November 1979, the then President Ziaur Rahman visited Pmkhali and himself inaugurated its original excavation work by using a spade.

During that historic visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a witness to the event 48 years later.

The canal stretches approximately eight kilometres. According to local engineers of the Ministry of Water Resources, nearly 40,000 people are expected to benefit directly from the re-excavation project.