The five-year plantation drive will be digitally monitored and aims to create green jobs, support nursery entrepreneurs and expand tree fairs from Dhaka to districts and upazilas.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2026, alongside the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2026, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in the capital on Thursday.
The theme for this year’s nationwide movement is: “Decorate the country with trees, Bangladesh comes first.”
Addressing the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called upon the nation to transform tree planting into a vibrant social movement.
“Let us celebrate the birth of every child by planting a tree. Let a tree grow alongside every newborn; let this mark the beginning of a lifelong bond with nature,” he said.
The prime minister emphasized that while planting new saplings is vital, ensuring their survival and long-term growth is equally critical.
“We must protect our existing ecosystems and preserve indigenous trees that have been part of our land for generations. Development and the environment should not be seen as rivals; we must ensure prosperity in harmony with nature,” he added.
A proactive climate strategy
Highlighting that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality, the prime minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a climate-resilient, sustainable Bangladesh.
As part of a landmark initiative to secure a habitable future for the next generation, the government has launched an ambitious programme to plant 250 million trees over the next five years.
To ensure transparency and success, the project will be monitored through a special cell under the Prime Minister’s Office, utilizing cutting-edge technology including GIS, remote sensing, a National Tree Database and drone surveillance.
This green revolution is expected to create over 350,000 green jobs and foster the growth of 10,000 new nursery entrepreneurs, providing a significant boost to the national economy.
A legacy of environmental stewardship
The event served as a tribute to the pioneers of Bangladesh’s environmental movement.
The prime minister recalled the contribution of modern Bangladesh’s architect, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, who first transformed tree plantation into a state-led movement and enacted the country’s first National Forest Policy in 1979.
He also acknowledged the late prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who initiated the historic National Tree Fair in 1994 and pioneered participatory social forestry.
Awards and outreach
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conferred the National Environment Award 2025, the National Award for Wildlife Conservation 2026 and the National Tree Plantation Award 2025 upon deserving recipients.
He also distributed profit-sharing cheques among beneficiaries of the social forestry programme.
Following the ceremony, the prime minister planted saplings of olive, jarul and neem trees on the exhibition center premises before touring the various stalls at the tree and environment fairs.
The national campaign extends beyond the capital. Besides the month-long fair in Dhaka, tree fairs will be held for 15 days in seven divisional headquarters, seven days in 56 districts and three days in 29 upazilas, ensuring that the movement reaches every corner of the country.
