Villagers eagerly await Tarique Rahman’s visit to Jashore

The village is abuzz as older residents reminisce about the canal excavation launched by Tarique’s father, former president Ziaur Rahman

The residents of Ulshi village, a remote settlement in Jashore’s Sharsha Upazila, are in a state of breathless anticipation as they wait for a visit from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman since Monday morning.

Many people, young and old, have gathered on both banks of the Ulshi canal, with hammers and spades in hand. They queue on both sides of the road to see the premier.

The first programme on the Tarique’s agenda in Jashore is the inauguration of the re-excavation of the Ulshi canal. About 4km long, the canal connects Ulshi-Jadunathpur with the Betna River in the Upazila.

Former president Ziaur Rahman inaugurated the canal’s excavation in 1976.

Shahadat Hossain, a 90-year-old resident of Ulshi village, was there for the late president’s inauguration of the programme in 1976. He was also waiting at the programme venue on Monday.

Recalling the day, Shahadat said: "Ziaur Rahman came in a helicopter and landed in the school field. He walked to the scene, dug up the soil with a spade and put it in a basket himself. The president picked up the basket of soil and he took the straw hat from my head and put it on his own.”

‘‘That day, a huge number of people gathered to inaugurate the canal excavation. Later, the people of different areas, alongside members of various government forces, engaged in the canal excavation work.

“Thousands of people took part in making the canal without paying. Those who worked were fed only bread and jaggery at noon. People started on the excavation work out of love for the president. “

Farmer Sadeq Ali said, “The canal has died out due to long-term lack of renovation. Irrigation is difficult. If it is re-excavated, it will benefit the people of the area a lot.”

‘‘I cannot express how happy the people of the village are that [Tarique] is coming here to excavate the canal.”

The historical plaque commemorating Zia’s inauguration the Ulshi-Jadunathpur canal excavation project is still at the scene.

The plaque has been cleaned for the prime minister’s arrival. It puts the inauguration date at Nov 1, 1976.

There is another plaque on the back of the pillar marking the completion of the project six months later.

It reads: “Our hands are millions of tools powered by the commitment to build our country. Major General Ziaur Rahman, President, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, has sparked the confidence of the people of Jessore with the successful implementation of the voluntary work-based Ulasi-Jadunathpur Canal Excavation Project. 30 April 1977.”

Fatema Begum, a housewife from Ulshi village, said: ''The prime minister’s father Ziaur Rahman excavated the Ulshi-Jadunathpur canal in Jashore’s Sharsha Upazila 50 years ago.

“Today, his son has come to excavate the canal by following the path that he had laid. We are lucky to see the prime minister from so close by.”

Local villagers are waiting with marigolds in hand to welcome the premier.

Ali Hossain, 70, said: “We are waiting for our prime minister. We have brought marigolds for him. We cannot get too close, but we will show off the marigold flowers we have brought for the prime minister from a distance.”