State Minister Farhad says canal excavation will start within 15 days

He says rivers will be freed from illegal encroachment and re-excavated

The government will begin its canal excavation programme within the next 15 days, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad has said.

Speaking after a meeting with local residents of Boda Upazila in Panchagarh on Friday afternoon, he said swift action would be taken to restore the country’s rivers and canals.

“It will be possible to begin canal excavation work in different districts across the country within the next 15 days,” he said.

He added that many rivers and water bodies are currently under illegal occupation.

“Initiatives will be taken to free these rivers and canals from encroachment and to re-excavate them,” he said.

Farhad said former president Ziaur Rahman had excavated almost two thousand miles of canals between 1977 and 1981.

“Taking that programme as inspiration, a renewed canal excavation drive will be launched,” he said.

He added that a large-scale tree plantation initiative would be taken under the water resources ministry in order to maintain environmental balance and ensure favourable climatic conditions.