Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, May 13, 2026 (BSS) - Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kazi Shahidul Islam said that nearly half of the canal excavation programme in Rajshahi district has been completed. 

“The progress of the canal excavation activities in the district is currently at 48.37 percent, meaning we have achieved almost 50 percent,” he said while sharing the information as the chief guest at a press briefing held this afternoon in his office conference room. 

The briefing was jointly organized by the District Administration and the District Information Office to inform media personnel about publicity activities for implementing the current government’s election manifesto.

Regarding the matter, DC Kazi Shahidul Islam said that to combat flood control and the adverse effects of climate change, the government has planned to excavate about 20,000 kilometers of canals nationwide over the next five years. 

As part of this, a programme to excavate 16 canals has been undertaken in Rajshahi district.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief are working to implement these projects.

Of these, five projects are being implemented by LGED and two by BMDA.
 
On women’s empowerment, he said that the Family Card programme has been launched as one of the government’s priority programmes.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the programme at four centers on May 16. As part of this, cards will be distributed to 669 beneficiaries in Ward No. 5 of Haripur Union, Paba Upazila, Rajshahi.
 
Highlighting the government’s initiatives for sports development, the District Administrator said that six athletes from Rajshahi who achieved success at the international level have been given special cards, through which they will receive Tk 1 lakh in support each month. 

Additionally, the district-level ‘Notun Kuri’ competition has already been completed, and the divisional-level competition will begin on May 17.

 The competition includes eight events: football, cricket, chess, kabaddi, athletics, badminton, martial arts, and swimming.

Speaking about the afforestation programme, he said there is a plan to plant 25 crore trees nationwide over the next five years.

As part of this, gardens will be created over about 10,000 kilometers in Rajshahi in June, with 1,000 trees to be planted per kilometer. 

Furthermore, a target has been set to plant a total of 93,200 trees in the district from 2026 to 2031. As ornamental trees, 8,900 saplings will be distributed free of charge.
 
Regarding assistance to farmers, the District Administrator said that applications for agricultural loan waivers for 113 farmers in Rajshahi have been sent to Bangladesh Bank. 

Once the process is complete, these loans will be waived.
 
The event was presided over by Nafeyala Nasrin, Director of the District Information Office. Special guests present included Civil Surgeon Dr. S.I.M. Raziul Karim, Additional DC Sabur Ali, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Nasir Uddin and LGED Executive Engineer Jahurul Islam.

BMDA Executive Engineer Mostafizur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer of the Social Forestry Division Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Deputy Director of the District Social Services Office Monira Khatun, and District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Abdul Hai Sarkar were also present.