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Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Thursday said the government has taken a plan to excavate and re-excavate around 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years.
He made the disclosure while replying to a starred tabled question from treasury bench member Mohammad Shamim Kaiser of Gaibandha-4 in Parliament.
The minister said that, in line with the government’s election manifesto, canal excavation and re-excavation activities are currently underway in different districts under a nationwide programme involving the dredging of rivers, canals, sanctuaries and other water bodies.
He added that under the government’s 180-day action plan, ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Agriculture will complete excavation and re-excavation of 1,204 kilometres of canals across the country by June 2026.
“In addition, a total of 20,000 kilometres of canals will be excavated and re-excavated over the next five years through both ongoing and new projects,” Anee said.
He informed the House that the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will re-excavate and rehabilitate around 1,500 kilometres of canals by June 2026 under the KABIKHA, KABITA and TR programmes.
The minister noted that three canal re-excavation projects are currently being implemented in Gaibandha district under the supervision of the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
He also said a large-scale canal excavation project is under formulation at the Ministry of Water Resources.