Urging citizens to plant at least one tree to ensure cleaner air for future generations, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has launched a nationwide campaign to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years.
The programme aims to strengthen environmental protection and tackle the growing impacts of climate change.
The initiative was inaugurated at around 3.00pm with the planting of a Garjan sapling at the Malumghat Reserved Forest in Dulahazara of Cox’s Bazar.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and other ministers and lawmakers joined the event, planting saplings of 11 different species.
Upon arriving at the venue, the prime minister greeted hundreds of local residents gathered there, whilst officials noted that 1,180 saplings of indigenous tree species will be planted in the forest during this initial phase.
“Thinking of your children’s future and ensuring they can breathe freely in a beautiful environment, please plant at least one sapling wherever you can from today,” Tarique said at the event.
This large-scale afforestation programme fulfils a key pledge in the ruling BNP’s election manifesto, which committed to planting 25 crore trees nationwide within five years of assuming office, with Saturday’s event marking the formal rollout of that commitment.
“Let us guarantee our future generations a clean, pollution-free environment where they can grow and thrive in healthy surroundings,” the prime minister said.
The overarching tree plantation programme will be implemented over five years under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
In its first phase, 1.5 crore saplings will be planted across 149 upazilas in 49 districts.
The launch event was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo presiding over the proceedings.
Alongside these environmental and economic schemes, the government has introduced social protection measures such as honorarium schemes for imams, muezzins, and religious leaders of various faiths, as well as stipends and sports cards for athletes.
Since taking office following its landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary elections, the BNP-led government has launched a number of pilot initiatives, including the Family Card programme in Dhaka’s Karail slum, the Farmers’ Card scheme in Tangail, and the Nutan Kuri Sports programme in Sylhet.
Among the dignitaries present were Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Md Helal Uddin, State Minister for Jute and Textiles Shariful Alam, and Environment Secretary Raihan Kawser. The programme concluded with a munajat, seeking blessings for the success of the nationwide campaign.
