(BSS) - Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today said the government has taken new programmes to complete the unfinished works of late BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with the aim of building a self-reliant Bangladesh.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a fish fry release programme at Rahmatkhali Canal in the district this morning.

"In this riverine country, we will be able to further strengthen our position through such initiatives," the minister said.

He stressed the need to implement development projects irrespective of political affiliation, saying prioritising such initiatives would help revitalise the rural economy.

Anee said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has undertaken various programmes across the country since the election. As part of these initiatives, a tree plantation campaign has been launched to plant 25 crore trees across the country over the next five years.

The government has also taken an initiative to re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country, which is scheduled to be completed within the next five years, he added.

The release of fish fry is also part of the initiative, the minister said.

Referring to the initiatives taken by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Anee said he had undertaken various programmes, including canal excavation, with a farsighted vision to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.

"Those were a movement, a revolution," he said.

The minister said the government is giving priority to the development of rural infrastructure, adding that the programmes are being implemented out of a sense of moral responsibility and are also closely linked to environmental protection.

Describing Rahmatkhali Canal as the lifeline of Lakshmipur, he said a large amount of water hyacinth had previously obstructed the canal.

"The water hyacinth has been cleared and the flow of water has been restored. As a continuation of this effort, fish fry were released into the canal today," he said.

Lakshmipur Deputy Commissioner SM Mehedi Hasan, Superintendent of Police Md Abu Tarek, Executive Engineer of the district Water Development Board Nahid Uz-Zaman Khan, District Fisheries Officer Jasim Uddin, District BNP Joint Convener Hasib-ur Rahman and Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Vice-President Wahid Uddin Chowdhury were present as special guests.

At the end of the programme, fish fry were distributed among 33 government and private institutions for release into ponds under an initiative of the District Fisheries Department.