Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inaugurated the re-excavation programme of the Ulashi ‘Zia Khal’ canal in Sharsha upazila of Jashore.
He formally launched the work by cutting soil with a spade at the site after unveiling the project plaque and offering a munajat (prayer).
Among those present were Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, and State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam.
The canal, about four kilometres long from Ulashi to Jadunathpur, was originally excavated on November 1, 1976, by then President Ziaur Rahman and later became known as “Zia Khal.” The re-excavation is being carried out by the Bangladesh Water Development Board.
People from Sharsha and nearby areas gathered along the canal from early morning, holding flowers and welcoming the Prime Minister with slogans. Local residents said the re-excavation would help solve waterlogging problems and improve irrigation and agricultural production.
A local labourer, Shahadat Hossain, who had taken part in the original excavation in 1976, recalled that Ziaur Rahman personally joined the work at the site. He expressed emotional satisfaction at witnessing the canal’s revival nearly 50 years later under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
The Ulashi area had long suffered from severe waterlogging, with large areas remaining submerged for much of the year before the canal was first excavated to ease public suffering.
The current initiative aims to restore the canal and improve water management. Earlier, the Prime Minister also launched a nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme across 54 districts by inaugurating work on the Sahapara canal in Dinajpur.