Plantation Foundation calls on Bangladesh’s political parties to place environment at heart of development plans, warning climate risks and weak enforcement threaten lives, livelihoods and future sustainability nationwide, elections ahead.
An environmental organisation has urged all political parties in Bangladesh to prioritise environmental protection, tree plantation and climate resilience in their election manifestos ahead of the upcoming national polls, warning that safeguarding nature has become a question of national survival.
In a statement issued on Thursday (February 5), Plantation Foundation said Bangladesh’s high vulnerability to climate change means environmental protection can no longer be treated as optional. Rising temperatures, deforestation, destruction of rivers and hills and an increase in floods and cyclones are already severely affecting people’s lives and livelihoods, it said.
The organisation said political leadership must place the environment at the centre of all development planning. It called on parties to ensure that tree plantation programmes mentioned in manifestos go beyond rhetoric and include clear and actionable implementation plans.
Plantation Foundation stressed that planting trees alone is not enough and that protection, maintenance and long-term survival of saplings must be guaranteed. It urged authorities to involve local governments, young people and citizens in well-planned programmes to ensure sustainability.
The group also highlighted the importance of conserving greenery in urban development and infrastructure projects. It warned that indiscriminate cutting of trees and hills in the name of development could lead to even greater environmental disasters in the future. As a result, it demanded mandatory environmental impact assessments for all development projects.
To address climate risks, the organisation emphasised nature-based solutions. It called for the conservation and expansion of mangrove forests in coastal areas, the plantation of native tree species and stricter control of environmentally harmful industrial activities.
While environmental issues appear in many party manifestos, Plantation Foundation said environmental groups remain sceptical about implementation due to the lack of clear roadmaps behind such pledges.
The organisation also demanded strict and politically independent enforcement of environmental laws, saying zero tolerance is essential to prevent the destruction of forests, rivers and biodiversity and to achieve sustainable development.
It further urged political parties to adopt environmentally friendly practices during election campaigns, including reducing plastic use, avoiding damage to trees and green spaces and using eco-friendly materials.
Plantation Foundation said it does not support or oppose any political party. Its sole objective, it said, is to help build a green, liveable and sustainable Bangladesh, adding that protecting the environment for future generations is the true mark of leadership.
