Dhaka-Underscoring the need for massive tree plantation in the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged all, including her party followers, to plant at least three saplings — fruit bearing, herbal and timber ones — each over the next three months.“You’ll plant these three types of saplings and also encourage others to plant these over the next three Bangla months from Ashar to Badhra,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing the inauguration of a three-month long tree plantation Programme organised by Bangladesh Krishak League at her official residence Ganobhaban, marking the first day of Bangla month of Ashar.
Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury and Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Monju attended the function as special guests.
“The main aim of my government is to restore the greeneries of the country through massive plantation and thus make people economically beneficial as well as meet the demand for food,” said the Prime Minister.
Noting that planting trees is not luxury rather it is essential, she urged the leaders and workers of Bangladesh Krishak League, Awami League and its other front organisations, elected representatives of the local government bodies public servants and people from all walks of life to come forward to plant at least these three types of saplings over the next three months.
Mentioning that farmers are the main lifeline of the country, she said for this her government has been giving due importance to agriculture and farmers alongside ensuring mechanisation of agriculture to boost agricultural production.
“Alongside spurring industrialisation, emphasis has been given on processing agro products in the countrywide special economic zones which are being set up to meet the local demand and export abroad,” Hasina said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that due to various proactive steps of her government, the forest coverage in the country has been raised to 17 percent from the previous 7 to 8 percent. “But, we want to raise our forest coverage to minimum 25 percent.”
Alleging that the environment of Dhaka city has been destroyed through cutting of trees in various times especially during the misrule of Ziaur Rahman, she blasted Zia for felling ‘Krishna Chura’ trees from Old Airport to Shahbagh area.
Directives have already been given to the authorities concerned to extensively plant trees in coastal areas, Hasina said adding that the plantation of coconut tree saplings in the coastal areas could help raise the income of the local people alongside protecting the environment.
Former president of Bangladesh Krishak League AKM Rahmat Ali, agriculture and cooperative secretary of the Awami League Dr Abdur Razzak and organizing secretary of Awami League AFM Bahauddin Nasim also spoke on the occasion.
President of the Krishak League Alhaj M Motahar Hossain Mollah and general secretary Advocate Khandakar Shamsul Haque Reja greeted the Prime Minister with a bouquet for being ‘Champions of the Earth’ in the leadership category for addressing the impacts of climate change.
Since 1985, BKL, the peasant wing of Awami League, has been observing the tree plantation drive each year.
The prime minister also presented awards among the best tree planters of different divisions.
