Photo : BSS

RANGAMATI, April 23, 2026 (BSS) - A 40-day canal excavation program has officially begun across an 8-kilometer stretch of Kaptai Lake, aiming to ease transportation challenges faced by local residents due to declining water levels.

The initiative was inaugurated this morning at Tripurachhara village under Bandookbhanga union in Rangamati Sadar upazila by Union Parishad Chairman Amar Kumar Chakma. Local officials, elected representatives and community members attended the opening ceremony.

The excavation work will cover the waterway from Tripurachhara to Dimbukhyachhara, employing around 600 workers daily throughout the 40-day period. According to Union Parishad Administrative Officer Dennis Chakma, the project is expected to benefit over a thousand people in the area.

In recent months, reduced water levels in Kaptai Lake have caused many small canal to dry up, severely disrupting river way communication. Local farmers and traders said that motorized boats used to transport garden produce are often getting stuck, causing extreme suffering.

Officials believe that the canal excavation will restore navigability in the area, significantly improving water transport and reducing hardship for local people.

Speaking at the programme, Chairman Amar Kumar Chakma said the project is part of efforts to fulfill the Prime Minister's election commitments. 

He also urged the government to expand similar canal excavation initiatives across other parts of Bandookbhanga union to ensure broader benefits.

The project is expected to play a crucial role in reviving local waterways and supporting the livelihoods of communities dependent on river transport.