, June 13 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the re-excavation of historic Patali Canal in Pmkhali Union of Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila, a canal closely associated with the memory of former President Ziaur Rahman.

Soon after arriving in Cox's Bazar from Dhaka, the Prime Minister went to Pmkhali and formally launched the re-excavation programme at around 10:50am.

Forty-eight years ago, in November 1979, then President Ziaur Rahman personally inaugurated the excavation of the canal by cutting earth with a spade. During the visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a reminder of that historic initiative.

Despite heavy rain, Tarique Rahman proceeded to the site and formally inaugur...