Photographs of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman were absent from official banners and festoons at Thursday’s inauguration of the World Environment Day programme and National Tree Fair, following a government directive prohibiting the use of his image at official events.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised the programme at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, where the prime minister inaugurated World Environment Day, Environment Fair 2026, the National Tree Plantation Campaign and National Tree Fair 2026.
Instead of the prime minister’s photograph, around 20 banners and festoons at the venue featured messages highlighting environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, tree plantation and the importance of proper tree care.
Several visitors said the absence of the prime minister’s image was immediately noticeable.
“It really catches the eye. There is no photograph of the prime minister on any of today’s banners or festoons,” said environmental activist Sulaiman Niloy, who attended the event from Savar.
He said he had recently read reports about the prime minister’s instruction not to use his photograph at government programmes and saw the directive being implemented at Thursday’s event.
“In the past, the prime minister’s photograph used to dominate such banners,” he added.
On 5 July, the Cabinet Division issued a circular following the prime minister’s directive, banning the use of his photograph — whether in three-dimensional form or any other format — on banners, festoons and billboards prepared for official government programmes.
The circular instructed authorities to focus on the theme and purpose of events while preparing publicity materials so that the objectives and messages of programmes are clearly reflected.
Dhaka University student Sanjida Khatun welcomed the move, saying the change would help shift attention towards the actual purpose of government events.
“In the past, the prime minister’s photograph was often so prominent that the main purpose of a programme became less visible,” she said.
“Now the focus has shifted to the event itself. I think this is a positive change and deserves appreciation,” she added.
Cabinet members, lawmakers, diplomats, senior government officials, representatives of private organisations and professionals attended Thursday’s programme.
