Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said one of the main goals of the present government is to build a green, clean, climate tolerant and sustainable Bangladesh. To achieve this goal, a programme of planting 25 crore trees has been taken up across the country in the next five years.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of ‘World Environment Day and Environment Fair-2026’ and ‘National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2026’ at the China Friendship International Conference Centre in the capital on Thursday.
The prime minister said the government’s policy is to ensure sustainable development in harmony with nature, not as a rival to each other. The government is implementing various programmes to address the risks of climate change, including the planting of 25 crore new trees.
Illegalities in the Cox’s Bazar railway project
During the tenure of the ousted Awami League government, the prime minister also alleged irregularities in tree plantation in the Cox’s Bazar railway project. He said a large number of trees have been cut down in the construction of the railway line from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar, but seven lakh trees are demanded by the government. However, he himself visited and found a maximum of two lakh trees.
The need to plant indigenous species
Putting emphasis on planning to plant trees, the prime minister said trees should not be planted just for numbers. It is important to keep in mind which species of tree is suitable for the soil and environment of the area.
He called for planting native fruits, forests, herbs, bamboo, orchids and extinct species instead of foreign species like eucalyptus and skyscrapers.
Rivers and Canals
The Prime Minister said the government is implementing a programme of excavating and re-excavation of 20 thousand kilometres of rivers and canals across the country to combat the impacts of climate change. According to him, this initiative will play an important role in keeping the flow of water normal and maintaining the balance of the environment.
The responsibility of the citizens in the management of waste
Highlighting the importance of civil awareness in waste management, the Prime Minister said it is not only the responsibility of the administration; every citizen has to be responsible. He also cited an example of an incident he saw himself, calling for not throwing dirt or plastic.
The Need for Biodiversity
Referring to the need to protect animals, insects and other biodiversity, the prime minister said animals should not be killed or harmed unnecessarily. He also stressed the importance of making the new generation sympathetic to nature and biodiversity.
He said that the environment and development can move forward together. The present government is committed to building a prosperous Bangladesh by maintaining harmony with nature.