The government is set to place canal excavation and river restoration at the heart of next fiscal year's development spending, signalling a renewed focus on water management and ecological balance.
Guidelines issued for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2026-27 underscore the urgency of tackling river erosion, waterlogging and climate vulnerabilities, while also addressing chronic delays in project implementation.
The Planning Commission has said special emphasis will be given to canal excavation and river restoration when allocating funds under the FY27 ADP.
At the same time, all new development projects will be required to incorporate ecological considerations, particularly in addressing riverbank erosion and drainage congestion across the country.
The directives were set out in guidelines released on Thursday by the Programming Division of the Planning Commission, formally launching the process of preparing the next ADP.
The document, signed by Planning Secretary SM Shakil Akhter, outlines procedures and priorities for ministries, divisions and implementing agencies in proposing allocations and new initiatives.
According to the guidelines, project-wise allocations for FY27 will take into account the implementation performance of projects in the current fiscal year.
Officials said this performance-based approach aims to improve accountability and speed up delivery.
The emphasis on water management comes as the government prepares to roll out a nationwide canal excavation programme ahead of Eid.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate excavation of the Sahapara Canal in Borompur, Kaharol Upazila of Dinajpur before Eid, while ministers, state ministers and Members of Parliament will simultaneously launch works in 63 districts.
The decision was finalised at an inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday at the Water Resources Ministry to coordinate the implementation of the "River, Canal, and Waterbody Excavation and Re-Excavation" programme.
Officials at the Planning Commission noted that the National Economic Council (NEC) had approved an ADP outlay of Tk 2.39 trillion for the current fiscal year (FY 2025-26).
However, ministries and divisions have so far utilised only Tk 505.56 billion, 21.18 per cent of the total allocation.
In response to the slow pace of spending, the NEC later revised the ADP downward to Tk 2.09 trillion.
The new guidelines state that projects related to canal re-excavation, river restoration, climate resilience and integrated water management will receive priority in fund allocation.
Environment-friendly and ecologically balanced planning has been stressed, particularly for regions affected by river erosion and prolonged waterlogging.
Beyond water-related projects, proposals must prioritise human resource development, social protection, healthcare services, the digital economy, agriculture and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Projects financed through foreign loans and grants, those contributing to poverty reduction and employment generation, and initiatives supporting economic growth and social welfare will also receive priority consideration.
The Planning Commission has further instructed ministries and agencies to focus on projects that can be completed within the next fiscal year, ensuring adequate funding to finish them on schedule rather than spreading allocations thinly across too many schemes.
The inter-ministerial meeting at the Water Resources Ministry was chaired by Prime Minister's Political Adviser Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed.
Among those present were Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Iqbal Hossain.
Mirza Abbas highlighted that late President Ziaur Rahman had earned widespread public support through canal excavation initiatives, transforming them into a model of grassroots development.
He urged all stakeholders to work collectively to expedite the programme.
Water Resources Minister Anee Chowdhury said years of neglect had resulted in waterlogging and irrigation shortages, causing hardship for communities across the country.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to public welfare and called for stronger inter-ministerial coordination to ensure effective and visible implementation.
State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad said the excavation drive had already generated strong public enthusiasm. Under the government's election pledge, 20,000 kilometres of canals are to be excavated over the next five years.
He urged all agencies involved to ensure the success of the 180-day excavation campaign.
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