United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Chandpur on Saturday to attend a series of programmes, including inauguration of canal re-excavation works and party events. According to the schedule shared by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, Tarique Rahman will leave his residence in Dhaka by road at 8:30am for the district. At around 11:30am, he will address a roadside rally at Lakshmipur Bazar in Barura upazila of Cumilla. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the re-excavation work of the Khordda Canal at Waruk Bazar under Tamta South Union in Shahrashti upazila of Chandpur at 12:30pm. He is scheduled to inaugurate the re-excavation of another canal — Bishwo Canal — near Ghosher Haat in Kumardugi village under Shah Mahmudpur Union of Chandpur Sadar upazila at 1:45pm. Tarique Rahman will take a short break at the Chandpur Circuit House at around 2:30pm. After the break, he will attend a “Family Card” distribution programme at the Chandpur Government College ground at 3:30pm. Later, the Prime Minister will join an organisational meeting of the district BNP at Chandpur Club around 5pm. He is expected to return to Dhaka by road at 6:30pm after wrapping up the day-long visit. This will be his first visit to Chandpur since assuming office as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Chandpur on May 16 and Feni on May 25, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said on Wednesday. He made the remarks while briefing reporters after a meeting with the Prime Minister at Secretariat. Replying to a question, the Water Resources Minister said canal excavation work is ongoing and the Prime Minister will inaugurate such programmes in Chandpur and Feni ahead of the monsoon season. “The Prime Minister will visit Chandpur on May 16 and Feni on May 25. Among various programmes, he will inaugurate canal excavation work there,” he said. Across the country, priority is being given to canal excavation in the districts the Prime Minister is visiting, Anee said. “The government has taken a plan to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals over the next five years. The Prime Minister has already inaugurated such programmes in several districts,” he said. The minister also said ministers and MPs are continuing similar work in their respective areas. “As the monsoon season is approaching, we may be able to continue this programme until May. After the monsoon, the canal excavation work will resume again around November, December and January,” he said. The hour-long meeting on water resource management was held at the Prime Minister’s Office at 10:00am. The minister also said the technical, survey and feasibility studies of the Padma Barrage project are almost complete and the government will soon take a decision in this regard.