Staff Reporter, Jashore
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Ulashi Canal in Jashore’s Sharsha upazila.He formally launched the work around 11:20am by cutting the first soil with a spade at the canal site.
A munajat was offered, seeking prayers for the departed souls of Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and for the welfare of the country.
Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit, and State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and the Bangladesh Water Development Board, were present.
Later, the prime minister unveiled the inauguration plaque of the project.
The nearly four-kilometre canal, stretching from Ulashi to Jadunathpur, was originally excavated through voluntary labour on November 1, 1976, under the initiative of Ziaur Rahman. It later became widely known as the ‘Zia Canal’.
The canal is now being re-excavated under the supervision of the Bangladesh Water Development Board.