SAIDPUR, March 16, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman arrived at Nilphamari's Saidpur Airport at 10 am today by air from Dhaka on his way to Dinajpur to inaugurate the long-cherished nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme.   "Soon after arriving at Saidpur Airport at 10 am, the Prime Minister left the airport for the Balrampur Sahapara area in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district by road to launch the programme," Saidpur Airport Manager AKM Bahauddin Zakaria told BSS at 10:30 am.   Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told BSS this morning that 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, including Dinajpur, across the country.   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.   Along with excavation and re-excavation of these canals, comprehensive initiatives have been taken to facilitate the irrigation system, tree plantation, fish farming, duck farming, revive the ecosystems and strengthen the canal water-dependent rural agro-economy.   The 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 on the same day today.   After the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister will visit the Faridpur graveyard in Dinajpur district town.   He will visit the graves of his grandfather Md Iskander Majumder, grandmother, 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.