Naogaon Correspondent

Nawfel Ali Mandal, three-time chairman of Kusumba Union Parishad No. 8, has protested against the news published in several electronic, print and online news portals under the title 'Various irregularities in canal re-excavation' in Manda, Naogaon.

He said, "Although the canal was re-dug in accordance with government instructions, a malicious group has provided false, baseless and fabricated news to the media workers by providing false information to tarnish the image of the government, local parliament members and chairmen. We strongly condemn and protest this."

It is learnt hat in order to implement the election promise of the Honorable Prime Minister, under the EGPP program of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, an allocation has been made for the re-excavation of 3.6 kilometers of canal from Bill Uthrail Bridge to Badalghata Bridge in Varshon and Kusumba unions of Manda upazila in the fiscal year 2025-26. Of this, 54 lakh 62 thousand taka has been allocated for Varshon section and 54 lakh 11 thousand taka has been allocated for Kusumba union section.

Project president UP member Momtaz Begum said that work was carried out as per the schedule with 125 workers and excavators following government instructions. No irregularities were committed.

He further said that at least 4,000 hectares of agricultural land in the two unions used to be submerged under water. Only one crop could be grown in this area per year. Due to the re-excavation of canals, waterlogging has been eliminated. As a result, three crops are now being produced in these lands. Farmers will be able to irrigate with water. In addition, the number of indigenous fish species will also increase.

Upon visiting the site, it was learned that the project workers, Asia, Majeda, Ataur Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Ibrahim, Rubel and Gias, said that they worked for 43 days. Each of them received 21,500 taka as remuneration through the bank.

Kusumba Union Parishad Chairman Nawfel Ali Mandal said that local MP and public leader Dr. Ikramul Bari inaugurated the re-excavation of Tipu Canal to eliminate waterlogging of the lands of poor farmers of the two unions, ensure irrigation system and protect the breeding of indigenous fish.

UNO Akhtar Jahan Sathi, PIO Ariful Islam and other concerned officials inspected the canal excavation work. The work was done in accordance with government regulations. Where 125 workers worked for 43 days. They withdrew money through bank accounts as wages for the work.