Re-excavation work of a canal at Ukhiarghona in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar was inaugurated on Monday as part of a nationwide initiative to restore rivers, canals and other water bodies.
The programme was formally inaugurated by Lutfur Rahman Kajol, a member of parliament from the Cox’s Bazar-3 constituency, as part of a government drive to excavate and re-excavate canals across the country.
The initiative forms part of a broader programme launched by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to excavate around 20,000 kilometres of canals nationwide. Under the project, excavation work has begun simultaneously in dozens of canals across the country.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation is implementing the canal excavation at Ukhiarghona.
Speaking as the chief guest, Kajol said that many areas of Ramu experience waterlogging even after light rainfall, mainly due to encroachment and waste dumping that have filled up canals over time.
“To overcome this situation, restoring and re-excavating canals is essential,” he said, urging residents to remain aware and help keep them free from waste.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Monday morning, was presided over by Md Abdul Mannan, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, and moderated by Md Fazle Rabbani Chowdhury, upazila nirbahi officer of Ramu Upazila.
Among others present were A N M Sajedur Rahman, superintendent of police of Cox’s Bazar; Md Sarwar Mawla, deputy chief engineer of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation; Dr Bimal Kumar Pramanik, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Cox’s Bazar; and Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiya, executive engineer of the corporation in Chattogram.
Also present were Swarup Muhuri, assistant commissioner (land) of Ramu; Monirul Islam Bhuiya, officer-in-charge of Ramu Police Station; Abul Bashar Babu, member secretary of Ramu upazila unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party; and Shamsul Alam, chairman of Kauarkhop Union, among others.
In his remarks as chair, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan said that Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country where water plays a crucial role in farming. He noted that canal excavation would help store water for irrigation during dry periods.
According to officials, the excavation will create a depth of about three metres in the canal, which is expected to improve irrigation facilities and create habitats for fish, contributing positively to both agriculture and fisheries.
Speakers at the event said that under the government’s five-year plan, about 20,000 kilometres of canals would be excavated across the country. As part of the programme, excavation work has started simultaneously in 63 canals across 54 districts on March 16. Once completed, the excavation is expected to bring thousands of hectares of new land under cultivation, thereby boosting agricultural production.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
