In Cumilla’s Titas upazila, a canal re-excavation project under the Prime Minister’s Special Priority Program and the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGPP) failed to meet its completion deadline. The upazila administration returned Tk 4,556,703 of unused funds to the government treasury to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending. The project, inaugurated by the local Member of Parliament, aimed to restore water flow, improve drainage, and boost agricultural productivity across a three-kilometer stretch from Darigaon Kathalia River to Gangaprasad.

According to the Project Implementation Office, only 1.067 kilometers of the canal were re-excavated before the June 30 deadline, with Tk 3,172,000 spent on wages, equipment, and transport. Local farmers said the incomplete work left persistent problems of waterlogging during monsoon and irrigation shortages in the dry season. Project Implementation Officer Saidul Islam stated that the remaining funds were returned as per government rules.

Officials said future projects will emphasize stronger planning and supervision to ensure timely completion and full benefits for local residents.