Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury -File PhotoMOULVIBAZAR, March 16, 2026 (BSS) - Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury today said that the canal excavation programme will add a new dimension to the local economy to increase agricultural production and protect the environment. “After the excavation work, various fruit-bearing and medicinal saplings would be planted along both the banks of the canals,” he said while inaugurating the excavation work of the Katagang canal at Sadar upazila of the district here. The minister said the excavation of canals will bring significant improvements to the irrigation system. Emphasizing on public participation, he said that when former President Ziaur Rahman launched canal excavation programmes across the country, ordinary people voluntarily joined the initiative with shovels in hand to improve their livelihoods. He also expressed his hope that the public would once again unite voluntarily to implement the development mission of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 16, 2026 18:05 UTC