State Minister for Public Administration and Food Md Abdul Bari spoke while inaugurating excavation work of the Kanamona-Harabati canal, a branch of the river Harabati in Joypurhat. Photo: BSS

JOYPURHAT, Apr 3, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Public Administration and Food Md Abdul Bari today said inadequate drainage caused severe losses to potato farmers in Joypurhat following recent sudden rainfall.

"If all canals across the country had remained functional, potato farmers in Joypurhat would not have faced such heavy losses due to unexpected rain," he said.

The state minister made the remarks while inaugurating excavation work of the Kanamona-Harabati canal, a branch of the river Harabati, at Matrai union under Kalai upazila of the district this afternoon.

Abdul Bari also said the prime minister has prioritised several welfare initiatives aimed at improving people's livelihoods, particularly for low-income groups. Measures such as family cards, agriculture cards and special allowances for imams and muezzins of religious institutions have been introduced to provide direct economic support.

He added that the government is working to keep the economy active by purchasing 1.5 to 2 million tonnes of potatoes from farmers or exporting surplus production abroad.

According to sources at the Joypurhat Water Development Board office, excavation of the nearly 5.75-kilometre Kanamona-Harabati canal at Matrai union of Kalai upazila will be carried out with support from the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the Water Development Board at an estimated cost of Taka 7.1 million.

Among others, Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner Md Al Mamun Miah, Kalai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamim Ara, Kalai upazila BNP convener Ibrahim Hossain Fakir, joint convener Mowdud Alam and Kalai municipal BNP general secretary Abdul Alim were present at the programme.