PM urges party men to love nature, plant trees

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the leaders and workers of Awami League to be caring to nature and planting tree during the rainy season to protect nature and people.

"You have to love and protect nature to save people," she said while inaugurating three-month tree plantation programme of Bangladesh Krishak League (BKL) here today.

Addressing a function on the occasion at her official residence Gonobhaban the prime minister reiterated her call to plant at least three saplings-fruit bearing, woody and medicinal- during the rainy season.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Minister for Environment and Forests Anwar Hossain Monju attended the function as special guests.

Former president of BKL AKM Rahmat Ali, agriculture and cooperative secretary of the Awami League Dr Abdur Razzak and organizing secretary 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 bouquet of flowers 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 presented awards among best tree planters of different districts. She also distributed saplings among BKL leaders joining the programme.

The Prime Minister said trees supply us food and most of the essentials we need in the life. "People of a country with fertile soil cannot suffer from hunger," she said as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been saying.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken steps for massive plantation across the coastal areas to get protection from water surge and cyclone as Bangladesh is very much vulnerable to these climatic disasters due to its geographical location.

In this regard, she mentioned about creating Jhaoban (casuarina forest) in Cox's Bazar coast saying Bangabandhu was the initiator of creating the forest which is working as a shield to protect the tourist city during any severe cyclonic storm.

Country's forest coverage reached 17 percent from seven percent during the tenure of the present government, she said adding that her government is making stride to make the coverage 25 percent.

The Prime Minister blasted the military dictators particularly Ziaur Rahman for destroying the greenery of Dhaka City saying he (Zia) cut off all Krishnachura trees on the road islands from old airport to Shahbag. 

In the name of development, she said, the military dictators destroyed all water bodies, drains, ponds and age-old trees in the city. 

The Prime Minister extended her thanks to Krishak League for conducting tree plantation drive for last 31 years and inspiring people for protection of nature.

She urged all to strengthen social afforestation drive saying, "you yourself will plant tree and inspire everybody in villages to plant trees." 

Highlighting the importance of Krishak League for country's economic development, the Prime Minister said role of farmers' organizations is very crucial for the countries like us dependent on agriculture for economic development.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has given importance to agricultural research which helped the country achieve self-reliance in food. Now the government has given attention to meat production, she said.

The Prime Minister urged for strengthening the Krishak League and project the government programmes taken for development of agriculture.

Source: BSS.