Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury today inaugurated a canal re-excavation programme in Magura. Photo : BSS

MAGURA, Mar 16, 2026 (BSS)- Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury today inaugurated a canal re-excavation programme in Magura as part of the government’s nationwide initiative.

The minister attended the re-excavation work of the Narayanpur canal at Binodpur Union under Mohammadpur upazila of the district at around 11:30 am.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the government has given priority to the canal excavation programme to expedite country’s development.

The minister expressed hope that if the canals remain functional, farmers will easily get irrigation facilities, which will help increase agricultural production.

He also said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman once launched a nationwide canal excavation programme to accelerate the country’s development and the present government has again taken the initiative to excavate the canals.

He said the government has a plan to excavate all canals in the country within the next five years. 

The present government did not assume power with huge public mandate. So, there is no scope to fail, he said adding the government is closely working with the people to move forward the country.

Nitai Roy Chowdhury said the government aims to transform Bangladesh into a developed nation in South Asia.

He said the government is working to stop crimes such as corruption, extortion, illegal sand quarry grabbing, market manipulation and online gambling.

With Deputy Commissioner Md Abdullah Al Mahmud in the chair, the programme was attended, among others, by Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman, Executive Engineer of District Water Development Board Mohammad Sarowar Jahan Sujan, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Water Development Board Murad Hossain, Mohammadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Shahinur Zaman and other local dignitaries.

Sources at the Water Development Board said there are more than 150 canals in Magura district. Among them, there is a plan to excavate and re-excavate 16 canals in the district by June this year. 

As part of the programme, the work began with excavation of a 955-metre stretch of the Narayanpur canal in Mohammadpur upazila.