Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is visiting Dinajpur tomorrow to inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme.

He will reach Saidpur Airport by air from the capital city tomorrow morning, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told BSS this morning.

Later, he will leave Saidpur Airport for the Balrampur Sahapara area in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district by road to launch the programme.   

The Prime Minister will virtually inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme simultaneously by re-excavating a 12-kilometer canal at the Balrampur Sahapara area in Dinajpur.    

In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in 54 districts across the country. 

On the same day, Ministers, Advisers, the Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad, State Ministers, Whips and Members of Parliament will inaugurate the programme simultaneously in the remaining districts.

After the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister will visit the Faridpur graveyard in Dinajpur district town. 

He will visit the graves of his grandfather late Md Iskander Majumder, grandmother, late Taiba Majumder and aunt Khurshid Jahan Haque (Chocolate) and close relatives at the Faridpur graveyard. 

Meanwhile, a great enthusiasm has been created among the BNP leaders, workers and activists, common farmers and people from all walks of life of Dinajpur centering the Prime Minister’s visit there. 

The authorities concerned have completed all kinds of preparations in this connection.

The nationwide initiative is expected to play an important role in improving irrigation facilities by making the best use of conserved surface water, boosting agricultural production and creating employment opportunities for rural people

It will also help increase the availability of surface water, reduce dependence on groundwater and strengthen water management, which is expected to contribute to mitigating drought, floods and water-logging in different parts of the country.