The Barishal Canal in Madaripur, once a vital waterway for trade, is being excavated after years of encroachment and pollution halted its water flow. Spanning 8 kilometers, the canal had been clogged by illegal structures, causing severe waterlogging. The district and municipal administrations have launched a joint initiative to reclaim and dredge the canal, starting from the Itarpool area. Locals welcome the move, saying restored water flow will boost agriculture on hundreds of bighas of land and help revive the region's traditional water transport.