Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh over the next five years. He made the announcement on March 16, 2026, at Balrampur Sahapara in Kaharol, Dinajpur, while inaugurating the re-excavation of a 12-kilometer canal under a nationwide program. The initiative, titled 'Nationwide River, Canal, and Reservoir Excavation and Re-excavation,' aims to improve water access and agricultural productivity.

Rahman stated that despite economic challenges caused by war in the Middle East, the BNP government continues to fulfill its electoral promises. He said that once the Sahapara canal project is completed, 31,000 farmers will gain access to irrigation water for 1,200 hectares of land, directly benefiting about 350,000 people. The program simultaneously launched excavation work on 54 canals across the country.

The opposition leader welcomed the canal excavation initiative, marking a rare instance of bipartisan support for a major government development project.