Implementing a canal excavation programme

The Canal Excavation Programme pledge has been articulated in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) election manifesto for Bangladesh’s 13th National Election. In its election manifesto for Bangladesh’s 13th National Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) states that "reintroduce the canal excavation programme initiated by President Ziaur Rahman, an initiative will be undertaken to excavate, re-excavate and restore 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals. Through this programme, 520 disappeared rivers, thousands of canals, and their natural water flows will be restored, and irrigation efficiency will be improved."

On 23 February 2026, the government issued a gazette notification for the formation of a coordination cell to implement the nationwide programme on excavation and re-excavation of rivers, canals, and water bodies, with the Ministry of Water Resources designated to provide secretarial support.

The central coordination cell is mandated to prepare year-wise work plans, coordinate existing and implementable activities across agencies, monitor implementation, and provide guidance, with secretarial support from the Ministry of Water Resources; the programme is designed for implementation through multiple agencies including the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), and the Department of Disaster Management under different project frameworks. However, no work plan has been published yet, but existing projects and plans have apparently been integrated.

On 16 March 2026, Prime Minister inaugurated the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme at Sahapara canal in Kaharole Upazila, Dinajpur, marking the start of implementation across 54 districts. The rollout continued with subsequent inaugurations, including the re-excavation of the Ulshi canal in Sharsha, Jashore, on 27 April 2026, a nearly 4 km canal being re-excavated through the Bangladesh Water Development Board. The canal excavation and re-excavation programme continues to be implemented nationwide across multiple districts under different government agencies. The government has reiterated its target of excavating or re-excavating 20,000 km of canals, rivers, and drainage channels over five years, while the FY2026–27 Budget set a target of 680 km of canal, irrigation canal, and drainage canal excavation and re-excavation for the fiscal year. The government’s 180-day progress report subsequently provided a consolidated account of physical progress. According to the report, by 15 July 2026, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief had completed re-excavation of 993.99 km across 383 canals in 242 upazilas of 62 districts. In addition, approximately 1,171 km across 647 canals had been excavated or re-excavated through initiatives of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). Taken together, the government reported approximately 2,165 km of canal excavation and re-excavation under these initiatives by 15 July 2026.