Desk Report:
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that implementation of canal excavation project will have a huge positive impact on agriculture, environment and local economy. Re-excavation of canal will change the picture of agriculture and economy of Bangladesh.
The minister said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of re-excavation of Bamansundar Canal in Mirsarai Upazila of Chittagong district by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation as part of the nationwide river, canal, watercourse excavation and re-excavation program initiated by the Prime Minister under the priority program of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Monday (March 16, 2026) at the grounds of Maliish Multipurpose High School in Mirsarai Upazila of Chittagong district.
The minister said that every project of the government is properly costed and budgeted, that is, the project has been taken up in a well-planned manner by determining the cost and allocating the budget. A long-term plan has been taken to implement these projects and the work will be completed in stages.
He said that according to the government’s election manifesto, there is a plan to dig about 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country. It is not possible to complete such a big program in a day, so the work will be taken forward in stages according to the plan. The target has been set to complete the work of digging about 1,200 kilometers of canals in the next six months.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that once the excavation work of Baman Sundar Canal is completed, about 15,000 hectares of land will come under cultivation and about 5,000 metric tons of additional food production will be possible. Regarding the challenge of freeing canals from encroachment, the minister said that many canals are encroached in different parts of the country. The process of demarcating the boundaries of the encroached canals has already started. No individual or group will get the opportunity to occupy government-owned canals. After demarcating the boundaries, the work of digging canals will be completed accordingly.
The minister also said that the government’s goal is to implement development projects with transparency and reduce the scope for corruption. Like various social security programs like agricultural cards and family cards, canal excavation projects are also being implemented as part of improving the quality of life of the people.
He said that if these 20,000 kilometers of canal excavation can be completed, then a new change will come in Bangladesh’s agriculture, environment and overall economy.
The program was presided over by Chittagong Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian. State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Member of Parliament for Chittagong 1st Constituency Nurul Amin MP, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Chief Engineer Irrigation of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation Muhammad Badiul Alam Sarkar, Project Director and Superintending Engineer of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation Md. Nurul Islam, Chittagong Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan were present as special guests.
Officials of various government departments and farmers, local dignitaries, journalists from print and electronic media were present at the program.
