A Correspondent:
Sylhet: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday inaugurated the re-excavation works of the Basia Riv-er in Sylhet, a project closely linked to the memory of his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
At about 1:20 pm, Tarique Rahman inaugurated the program by cutting soil with a spade amidst the ad-verse weather conditions.
This Basia River in Kashipur Union, about seven kilometers away from Sylhet city, is connected to the Surma River.
Addressing the locals present after re-excavating the canal, the Prime Minister said the Basia River, this canal here, was dug by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in 1977. “After that, this canal was blocked again. We want to re-excavate this canal now.”
Explaining the reason for re-excavating this canal of the Basia River, he said, “If we dig this canal, about 80,000 farmers will be benefitted directly while 150,000 farmers indirectly. On both sides of this canal, about 7,000 metric tonnes more crops will be produced.”
He said more canals will be excavated all over Bangladesh to facilitate irrigation for farmers.
The Prime Minister also informed the people that canal digging has already been started in 60 places across the country.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said, the government has started the work of canal digging by re-excavating this Basia canal. The canal digging has started in about 60 districts.
This Basia canal is about 40 kilometers, he said, out of the total, 23 kilometers will be re-excavated.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad were present, among others.
The Basia River in Sylhet was excavated first by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in 1977. The Basia River, which connects the Surma and Kushiara rivers, has been lying dead for long having lost its navi-gability.
Considering the demands of the locals, the Water Resources Ministry has taken up the re-excavation pro-gramme of the Basia River.
