Tariq Rahman reminded the audience that his government had promised to waive off agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 including interest before the elections and this decision was taken during the first cabinet meeting after forming the government.
Pointing out the importance of canal digging, the Prime Minister said many canals across the country have become clogged over time, leading to water shortage during the dry season and floods during monsoons.
“Many existing canals across Bangladesh have been filled up. At some places, even rivers have been filled up,” he said. Digging of canals will make it possible to store excess rainwater during monsoon and use it for agricultural purposes, he said.
The Prime Minister said the government planned to dig about 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country over the next five years to improve water management and support agriculture.
He said that along with canal digging, the government will also run a tree plantation programme.
“We will plant about 7,000 trees along this Sahpara canal. People will be able to move on the canal road and benefit from it,” the Prime Minister said.
Tariq Rehman warned that excessive exploitation of underground water through deep tube wells has led to a significant decline in the groundwater level.