Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today inaugurated a nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme by cutting soil with a spade at Sahapara canal in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur.
The programme was launched around 12:27pm at Balrampur village of the upazila.
At the same time, the prime minister virtually inaugurated canal excavation and re-excavation works in 54 districts across the country, aimed at improving irrigation, increasing agricultural production and creating employment in rural areas.
The initiative revives a programme originally introduced by BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman, who launched canal excavation across the country.
After introducing the Family Card programme earlier, the prime minister launched the canal revival initiative to fulfil another election pledge made by the BNP ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.
Several thousand local people enthusiastically watched as the head of government himself dug the canal, following in the footsteps of his late father.
The prime minister reached Syedpur Airport from Dhaka by air at 10:15am. From there, he travelled by road to the Balrampur Sahapara area in Dinajpur. Leaders and activists stood along both sides of the road to greet him as his motorcade passed.
This is Tarique Rahman’s first visit outside the capital since assuming office as the prime minister on February 17.
He is also scheduled to address a public meeting near the canal at Sahapara later in the day.
The programme is being jointly organised by the Water Resources Ministry and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).