Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated the re-excavation of historic Ulashi canal in Sharsha upazila of Jashore.

The Prime Minister formally launched the work around 11:20am the by cutting the first soil with a spade at the canal site.

A munajat was offered there seeking the salvation of the departed souls of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former Premier Minister Khaleda Zia and the welfare of the country.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, and senior officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and the Bangladesh Water Development Board were present at the ceremony.

Later, he unveiled the inauguration plaque of the canal re-excavation work.

The plaque reads: "Tarique Rahman MP, Honourable Prime Minister, inaugurated the re-excavation of Ulashi Canal (Zia Canal) under Sharsha upazila of Jashore district on April 27, 2026."

The nearly four-kilometre canal, stretching from Ulashi to Jadunathpur, was originally excavated through voluntary labour on November 1, 1976, under the initiative of former president Ziaur Rahman. It later became widely known as the 'Zia Canal'.

The canal is now being re-excavated under the supervision of the Bangladesh Water Development Board.

On March 16, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman launched a nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme in 54 districts simultaneously, beginning with the re-excavation of Sahapara canal in Balarampur of Kaharole upazila in Dinajpur.

Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at Jashore Airport at around 10:20 am on a domestic flight.

From the airport, he travelled directly to Ulashi by bus to inaugurate the canal re-excavation project in Sharsha upazila.

He is now scheduled to attend a civic reception on the bank of the canal.

Later, after offering Zuhr prayers and having lunch at the Jashore Circuit House, he will lay the foundation stone of Jashore Medical College Hospital and visit Jashore Institute Public Library.

In the afternoon, Tarique will address a public rally at Jashore Central Eidgah Ground, organised by the district BNP.

The Prime Minister is expected to return to Dhaka by air in the evening after completing his programmes.

This is Tarique Rahman's first visit to Jashore since assuming office as Prime Minister.

He last visited the district on February 2, when he addressed an election rally at Jashore Upashahar Degree College Ground as BNP chairperson.