With 3.57 crore saplings already planted, the government plans 503 new nurseries and measures to protect the Sundarbans, conserve mother trees and promote rooftop gardening.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered officials to provide updates every three months on the condition of saplings planted under a nationwide campaign to grow 25 crore trees, urging authorities to make every effort to ensure the trees survive.
He issued the directive at a meeting with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday, October 15. The meeting began at around 10 am under the prime minister’s chairmanship.
Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, the prime minister’s special assistant for environmental affairs Saimum Parvez and ministry secretary Fahmida Khanam attended the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, officials presented an update on the planting campaign, reporting that 3.57 crore saplings had been planted across the country since its launch on June 13.
Rahman asked about the condition of the planted trees and stressed the need to make every possible effort to keep them alive. He instructed the relevant officials to submit updated information on the trees every three months.
“We mainly discussed forests today, particularly the tree-planting programme, as it is one of my signature projects. Naturally, I want to move it forward. It may be my signature project, but we will all benefit from it,” the prime minister told the meeting.
“If you recognise that we will all benefit from it, I believe all of you should come forward. If everyone contributes, we can create a healthy and beautiful environment for all,” he said.
The prime minister also asked the environment ministry to consider ways to involve children and teenagers in the planting initiative. He emphasised the need to bring deforested areas, including those in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, under tree-planting efforts.
Mintoo said the ministry planned to establish 503 nurseries across the country next year to ensure an adequate supply of saplings for the programme. The nurseries would also help fulfil a commitment in the election manifesto to create green jobs, he said.
Rahman stressed that raising public awareness would make environmental protection easier, arguing that government directives alone could not solve the problem.
“In our country, people normally expect the government to do everything. I litter, and the government cleans it up. But if we all try to produce less waste, it will be easier for the government and those responsible to keep the environment clean,” he said.
The prime minister said he encouraged children to plant trees whenever he met them, urging them to mark birthdays and family occasions by planting saplings.
“When I meet children, I tell them to plant a tree on their birthday, on their siblings’ birthdays and on the birthdays of their parents and grandparents. The point is to encourage them,” he said.
“Out of 100 people, perhaps not everyone will do it. If 50 do it, or even 25, that is still a lot,” he added.
Rahman called on people to contribute to the country beyond their formal responsibilities, saying: “This country belongs to all of us.”
He urged everyone to try to do something for the country beyond their regular 9 am to 5 pm working hours, adding that efforts would surely produce positive results.
The meeting also decided to take measures to conserve mother trees, protect the Sundarbans and expand its coverage, and promote rooftop gardening through incentives.