UNB, Feni:: The long-clogged Dadna canal in Daganbhuiyan has regained its natural flow after a clean-up drive removed years of accumulated waste and debris, ending more than two decades of stagnation.
For over 20 years, the canal had remained blocked by piles of rubbish, preventing water from flowing.
Nearly one-third of the canal had also been illegally occupied by an influential group.
Although the upazila and municipal authorities cleared the encroachment earlier this year, the canal remained choked with garbage.
Ahead of the recent election, Tajwar M Auwal, the youngest son of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, took an initiative to clean the canal and requested a private organisation named ‘Footstep’ to carry out the work.
The organisation started the clean-up drive but the upazila administration later suspended the work citing the election code of conduct.
At the time, Tajwar said the canal would be cleaned after the election regardless of the result.
Following the election, he again requested Footstep to resume the work. After five days of continuous effort, the team removed accumulated waste from the canal, allowing clear water to flow again through the once-dead waterway, bringing relief to local residents.
General Secretary of Daganbhuiyan Bazar Business Welfare Association Jasim Uddin Liton said freeing the canal from encroachment and pollution was a long-standing demand of local people and traders.
“Though the upazila administration removed the illegal occupation, the canal was still lifeless. We express our gratitude to Tajwar M Auwal for restoring the canal,” he said.
Jasim urged the authorities to ensure that no influential group can occupy the canal in future and that regular cleaning activities continue.
Speaking about the initiative, Tajwar M Auwal said he noticed the polluted canal while visiting Daganbhuiyan market and immediately contacted the Dhaka-based company to clean it.
“The work began but was later stopped due to the election code of conduct. I then promised that we would complete the task after the election. Accordingly, the canal has now been cleaned. InshaAllah, such efforts will continue in future,” he said.
Local residents hoped that the restored canal would help improve drainage, reduce pollution and enhance the environment of the area.
