Bangladesh begins nationwide canal restoration to remove encroachment, improve irrigation and drainage, enhance biodiversity, and build climate resilience through dredging, tree planting, and inter-ministerial coordination over five years.
Bangladesh has launched a major initiative to reclaim and restore its waterways, aiming to protect canals from illegal encroachment and preserve their ecological and economic value. Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Minister of Water Resources, made the announcement while inspecting the Shubhadya and Atthi canals in Keraniganj on Wednesday.
“We will reclaim our canals from illegal encroachers and bring back their lost heritage. Alongside dredging, we will strengthen the banks, plant trees, improve waste management and ensure these waterways serve the people sustainably,” Minister Anee said.
Bangladesh’s canals are vital for agriculture, flood control and urban water management. Over the years, many waterways have been lost or blocked due to encroachment and pollution, causing waterlogging, reduced irrigation and difficulties in daily life. Minister Anee emphasized that strict action will be taken against those occupying the waterways illegally.
The government’s ongoing projects include dredging key canals, building infrastructure for long-term maintenance and implementing modern waste management systems. Under a long-term vision, Bangladesh aims to restore 20,000 kilometers of canals, ponds and water bodies across the country over the next five years. The initiative will focus on sustainable dredging, protecting biodiversity and supporting livelihoods that depend on waterways.
State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad added that canal restoration will improve irrigation, restore river navigability, reduce waterlogging and strengthen climate resilience. A five-year nationwide plan to plant five million trees along canal banks and surrounding areas will complement the project.
During the inspection, Minister Anee visited key points along the Shubhadya Canal, including Khejurbagh, Jora Bridge, Chunkutia and the Joynagar area along the Atthi Canal. He said the second phase of the project would ensure wider benefits for the local population, including improved sewerage and drainage systems, in coordination with the Local Government Ministry and other departments.
Minister Anee stressed the importance of inter-ministerial coordination involving the Ministries of Water Resources, Environment, Local Government, Public Works and Agriculture. He called for public cooperation to prevent waste dumping into canals and warned that strict action would be taken against encroachers.
The inspection was attended by Secretary A K M Shahabuddin, Lt. Colonel Shahadat Hossain, Keraniganj Upazila Executive Officer Omar Faruk, Major Md. Shakib, Additional Police Superintendent Jahangir Kabir, Executive Engineer M L Saikat of the Dhaka Water Resources Office and local political leaders including Nipun Roy Chowdhury and Aman Ullah Aman.
Aman Ullah Aman highlighted the historical importance of the canals, noting that the Atthi Joynagar Canal was originally excavated during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman but had fallen into encroachment and pollution over time. He said restoring the canal and keeping it free from encroachment would significantly benefit local communities.
This ambitious program reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to sustainable water management, climate resilience and improving the lives of millions who depend on its waterways.
