Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Basiya River in Kandigaon Union of Sylhet Sadar upazila on May 2, 2026. The river flows through four upazilas of Sylhet, originating from the Surma River and merging into the Kushiyara. The Basiya River was first excavated in 1977 under the initiative of then-President Ziaur Rahman. The new project marks the first re-excavation in 49 years.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Rahman stated that the majority of Bangladesh’s population lives in rural areas, and empowering them remains a central goal of his government. He emphasized that his administration, elected by popular vote, is accountable only to the people and is committed to fulfilling its electoral promises.

According to the Prime Minister, 23 kilometers of the river’s total 40-kilometer length will be re-excavated. Once completed, the project is expected to directly benefit about 80,000 farmers and indirectly assist another 1.5 million farmers across the region.