Bangladesh Model Canal Programme to Create Jobs for 2,400 Families

Nazirur Rahman Sohel, Dhaka — The Bangladesh government is preparing to launch a pilot Model Canal programme aimed at creating employment opportunities, diversifying livelihoods and improving environmental sustainability through the planned use of re-excavated government-owned canals and water bodies.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, will cover 20 selected canals across eight divisions, with an estimated 2,400 ultra-poor families expected to benefit. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the programme in Lalmonirhat on November 19, according to information from the ministry.

Under the concept of “Not Just Canal Excavation, but Multifaceted Use of Excavated Canals,” the government intends to transform restored canals into productive community resources rather than using them solely for drainage and water management.

The programme will promote social forestry along canal banks, fish and duck farming, seasonal vegetable cultivation and cottage industries, while preserving the natural flow and water-retention capacity of canals. It also aims to improve navigation, strengthen local livelihoods and generate sustainable employment for vulnerable households.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said the initiative builds on the canal excavation campaign launched by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, which sought to restore the country’s water resources and support agricultural development. According to the minister, many canals have gradually become silted up because of neglect and illegal encroachment, reducing their capacity to support drainage, irrigation and other essential activities.

The government is now pursuing a broader programme to re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of rivers, streams and canals over five years, in line with the BNP’s election manifesto. Four government ministries are jointly implementing the initiative, with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief responsible for 7,000 kilometres.

Dulu said the ministry completed 1,200 kilometres of canal excavation during the last fiscal year against its assigned target. He explained that the Model Canal programme would introduce a more comprehensive approach by combining waterway restoration with productive economic activities and environmental conservation. A central objective of the Model Canal programme is to create income-generating opportunities for disadvantaged families living near restored waterways.

The government plans to encourage fish and duck farming in suitable canal sections, seasonal vegetable cultivation along canal banks and tree planting under social forestry initiatives. Cottage industries and other locally appropriate economic activities are also expected to contribute to employment generation.

These activities are intended to help participating families develop more diversified sources of income while making productive use of public water resources. The programme also supports the government’s wider target of planting 25 crore trees across Bangladesh. Integrating social forestry with canal restoration could help improve vegetation cover, protect canal banks and contribute to environmental conservation.

Officials say the approach is designed to help ultra-poor households move gradually towards economic self-reliance through productive livelihoods rather than depending exclusively on social assistance or allowances. The initiative places particular emphasis on preserving the environmental and water-management functions of canals while introducing new economic uses.

According to the programme’s concept paper, activities will be planned to maintain natural water flow and water-retention capacity, helping canals continue to support drainage, irrigation and other local needs.

Restored waterways can play an important role in managing seasonal water flows and supporting agricultural production. Their effective management may also help communities strengthen resilience against water-related disasters, although outcomes will depend on local conditions and implementation.

Minister Dulu said the programme would be implemented in accordance with the Environmental Conservation Act and the Water Body Management Policy. The ministry would also respect the existing legal, administrative and technical responsibilities of relevant government departments and institutions.

This coordination will be important to ensure that commercial and livelihood activities do not undermine the public, environmental and agricultural functions of the canals.

The Model Canal initiative forms part of the government’s broader commitment to expanding irrigation facilities, conserving water resources and accelerating agricultural production. Under the five-year nationwide plan, the excavation and re-excavation of rivers, streams, canals and other water bodies is intended to restore lost water flows and improve the availability of water for agricultural and community use.

The government is also continuing efforts to restore waterways through public participation, following the tradition of voluntary canal excavation associated with Ziaur Rahman’s earlier campaign. By linking restoration work with farming, aquaculture, forestry and small-scale industries, the Model Canal programme seeks to create a closer connection between environmental management and rural economic development.

Its success will depend on effective coordination among government agencies, protection against renewed encroachment, responsible management of canal banks and water, and the ability of participating families to sustain their livelihood activities over time.

The planned launch of the Model Canal programme represents an effort to broaden the role of canal restoration in Bangladesh’s rural development strategy. With 20 canals selected across eight divisions and approximately 2,400 ultra-poor families expected to benefit, the pilot will test whether restored waterways can support environmental protection alongside employment generation and income diversification.

If implemented effectively, the programme could provide a framework for combining water-resource management, social forestry, agricultural development and community-based economic activities in other parts of the country. The initiative’s long-term impact will depend on how successfully the government preserves the canals’ natural functions while ensuring that local communities can benefit from them sustainably.