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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (Saturday) inaugurated the re-excavation works of the Basia River in Sylhet, a project closely linked to the memory of his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
At about 1:20 pm, Tarique Rahman inaugurated the programme by cutting soil with a spade amidst the adverse weather conditions, BSS reports.
This Basia River in Kashipur Union, about seven kilometers away from Sylhet city, is connected to the Surma River.
Addressing the locals present after re-excavating the canal, the Prime Minister said the Basia River, this canal here, was dug by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in 1977. “After that, this canal was blocked again. We want to re-excavate this canal now.”
Explaining the reason for re-excavating this canal of the Basia River, he said, "If we dig this canal, about 80,000 farmers will be benefitted directly while 150,000 farmers indirectly. On both sides of this canal, about 7,000 metric tonnes more crops will be produced.”
He said more canals will be excavated all over Bangladesh to facilitate irrigation for farmers.
Describing the BNP government as a farmer-friendly one, the premier said, "When the election time came, I said in my speech that if voted to power, we will provide agricultural cards to the farmer brothers. I started this work from Tangail and thus I inaugurated the farmer card on April 14 last. We will gradually deliver the farmer cards to the farmer brothers of Bangladesh."
He said the government will provide many facilities including loan, fertilizers, seeds and pesticides directly to the farmers through the farmer cards.
“And the biggest facility is that they will get Taka 2500 per year in which they themselves can buy pesticides, seeds and other agricultural inputs directly. We will provide them with this financial assistance directly from the government,” he said.
Stating that loans of Taka 10,000 with interest have been waived for the farmers, Tarique Rahman said the government wants the farmers of this country to remain well and villagers to be well too.
But since most of the country’s people live in villages, ensuring their welfare is the government’s goal, he said.
The Prime Minister also informed the people that canal digging has already started in 60 places across the country.