Dhaka, March 16 -- Around five decades ago, the late president Ziaur Rahman stood alongside hundreds of people of different age groups to excavate canals.

By mirroring this action on Monday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will continue that tradition, said 74-year-old Kulsum Begum, a resident of Balarampur village in Dinajpur.

"Tarique Rahman is our nephew, just as Khaleda Zia was our sister. Now he is the prime minister of Bangladesh. The son [Tarique] is digging canals just like the father [Ziaur Rahman]. The martyred Zia joined the canal digging programmes alongside common people."

The Sahapara Canal is situated in Balrampur, but it often looks like a rough earthen dumping place than a canal. Even in the monsoon, no water flows along...