Dr Zubaida Rahman urged a nationwide green revolution through tree plantation, stressing environmental protection, youth engagement, scientific innovation and sustainable development to create a greener, more liveable Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) Vice President Dr Zubaida Rahman on Sunday called for a nationwide movement to expand tree plantation, saying it is vital to protecting the environment and building a liveable world for future generations.
Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the “Month-long Tree Plantation” Programme and the “Search for Future Scientist – Science Fair 2026”, Dr Zubaida said tree planting creates opportunities for environmental protection and contributes to building a beautiful and sustainable world.
The Ziaur Rahman Foundation organised the tree plantation programme to mark the 45th martyrdom anniversary of the great proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam.
Addressing the event, Dr Zubaida said teachers and students could play an important role in finding scientific solutions to many of the challenges facing Bangladesh. She expressed hope that every village and city across the country would become greener, cleaner and more beautiful for future generations.
She urged people to transform tree plantation from a conventional programme into a “Green Revolution” through public participation to advance economic, social and generational development.
Dr Zubaida also proposed the formation of Green Voluntarism, Climate Youth Fellowship and an environment-based startup fund to strengthen environmental initiatives.
Emphasising the need to raise environmental awareness among young people, she called for the inclusion of green voluntarism in school curricula. She also said university students and teachers would be invited to participate in the “Search for Future Scientist” competition.
Highlighting the role of innovation, Dr Zubaida said scientific research and healthy competition in fields such as medicine, botany, physics, chemistry and information technology could help solve many of Bangladesh’s problems.
“Scientific innovation and healthy competition in various fields such as medicine, botany, physics, chemistry and information technology can solve many of the country’s problems. New innovations will pave the way for alleviating human suffering and building a developed Bangladesh,” she said.
Earlier, she inaugurated the tree plantation programme by planting a neem sapling on the Curzon Hall premises of Dhaka University. She later opened the “Search for Future Scientist – Science Fair 2026” at the central gallery of the university’s Department of Botany.
The event was chaired by ZRF Acting Executive Director Professor Dr Morshed Hasan Khan and moderated by Professor Lutfar Rahman, convener of the committee formed by the foundation to observe Ziaur Rahman’s martyrdom anniversary.
Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A F M Yusuf Haider, current Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam, ZRF Director Dr Mostafa Aziz Sumon and agriculturist Boijar Rahman spoke as special guests.
Deans of various faculties, chairpersons of different departments and teachers and students of Dhaka University also attended the programme.
In line with the foundation’s central programme, tree plantation activities were also inaugurated on the same day at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Sylhet Agricultural University.
