Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurates Patali Canal restoration project in Coxs Bazar

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the re-excavation of the Patli Canal in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday, marking a symbolic return to a project initiated by his father, the late President Ziaur Rahman, nearly five decades ago.

Arriving in the coastal district on Saturday morning, the Prime Minister traveled by road to the PM Khali Union in Sadar upazila. Despite persistent rainfall, he formally commenced the excavation work at 10:53 a.m. using a traditional spade, before planting a date palm sapling along the embankment to commemorate the occasion.

The local community gathered in large numbers to greet the Prime Minister, braving the inclement weather to express their support with slogans and cheers. The project holds significant historical weight; in November 1979, the late President Ziaur Rahman visited the same site to launch the original excavation of the eight-kilometer waterway, planting a date palm tree that remains standing today.

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The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury, and several state ministers, as well as local members of parliament.

According to engineers from the Ministry of Water Resources, the restoration of the eight-kilometer canal is expected to provide substantial agricultural and infrastructural benefits to approximately 40,000 local residents. The project reflects a broader government initiative to revitalize rural water management systems through the rehabilitation of legacy infrastructure.