Posted on April 27, 2026
By Bijoy Dhar
Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan on Sunday inaugurated a canal re-excavation program in Rangamati, emphasizing its importance for agriculture, water management, and environmental restoration.
Talking to journalists after the inauguration, Dewan said that former President Ziaur Rahman had introduced canal excavation initiatives to support farmers, but subsequent governments neglected such efforts and instead allowed encroachment on rivers and canals.
The newly launched program will cover canal sections from the Manikchhari bridge to Boropara canal, as well as from Kutukchhari Bazarto Montola, in Sapchhari and Kutukchhari unions.
The minister noted that the absence of regular excavation in recent years has led to siltation of canals, causing waterlogging during the monsoon and water shortages in the dry season. This, he said, has adversely affected biodiversity and disrupted ecological balance.
He also stated that the current government has resumed canal excavation activities under a 180-day priority plan as part of a broader 31-point reform agenda. He expressed optimism that the program would enhance agricultural production and help restore environmental balance.
Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, Deputy Secretary of Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry Rabindra Chakma, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury, and LGED Executive Engineer Ahmed Shafi were, among others, present at the function.
According to Rangamati Sadar Upazila Project Implementation Officer Riadul Islam, around 33 kilometers of canals will be re-excavated across Sapchhari, Kutukchhari, Bandukbhanga, and Balukhali unions at an estimated cost of Tk 8.5 crore.
