Officials said sapling care, household planting, school participation and reduced polythene use would be central to the nationwide drive launched at a Keraniganj college programme.
Bangladesh aims to save at least 25 crore trees nationwide over the next five years as part of efforts to address climate change risks and maintain environmental balance, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam said on Today.
The government plans to plant between 30 crore and 32 crore saplings, replacing trees that may be damaged by natural disasters or other causes, he said.
Faridul Islam made the remarks as chief guest at the inaugural session of a tree plantation programme organised at Nayabazar Degree College in Keraniganj upazila on today morning.
“We are working with this slogan in mind: ‘We will beautify the country with tree plantation, Bangladesh first’,” he said.
The state minister said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was directly monitoring how many trees were being planted as well as how they were being cared for and maintained.
Recounting a visit to Cox’s Bazar, he said 40 lakh saplings had been planted in the single district.
“People are planting trees very spontaneously and taking care of those, which is a great hope for us in protecting the environment,” he said.
Referring to rising temperatures caused by climate change, Faridul Islam said Bangladesh was one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and stressed the importance of increasing family tree planting to check temperature rises and maintain normal rainfall.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had announced a “One Child, One Tree” programme, under which each student would plant a sapling and grow it in their own way.
The state minister also emphasised environmental cleanliness and the ban on polythene.
“We should develop the habit of using dustbins instead of throwing garbage or tissues at roadsides,” he said.
Faridul Islam said the use of single-use polythene should also be stopped in grocery shops, fruit shops and kitchen markets.
“If the use of non-biodegradable polythene is reduced, waterlogging and plastic pollution will be largely addressed,” he said.
Speaking as a special guest, Alhaj Aman Ullah Aman, MP from Dhaka-2, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had adopted a five-year plan to plant 25 crore trees.
As part of the plan, five crore trees will be planted this year, he said.
The event was presided over by Dr Lubna Sharmin, President of Bangladesh Rotary International.
Keraniganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Umar Faruk, Nayabazar Degree College Principal Abdul Malek, Keraniganj Model Upazila BNP Acting President Md. Shamim Hasan, its Joint Secretary Monir Hossain, local political and civil society leaders, teachers and students also attended the programme.
The guests later planted saplings at the venue.
