Plant saplings at houses, workplaces: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged all to plant and nurture saplings in their respective workplaces and houses with a view to protecting the environment.

“I would like to request you all who are in our schools, colleges, offices and courts to plant some saplings in your respective workplaces and houses. Also our children will have to be taught it (tree plantation). You’ll also have to nurture trees alongside plantation of saplings,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the programmes of the World Environment Day and Environment Fair-2019 and the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Fair-2019 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital.

She also urged everybody to plant at least three saplings – a fruit-producing tree, a timber-producing and a herbal-contributing one.

Noting that creating green belts is very essential for the sake of the environment, Hasina said her government’s target is to bring 20 percent land of the country under forestation. The government also continues various activities to accomplish the target, she added.

The Prime Minister asked to keep tree plantation programme and consider the protection system of water bodies while undertaking any development project.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md  Shahab Uddin presided over the function, while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.

Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar attended the programmes. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Abdullah Al MohsinChowdhury delivered the welcome speech.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Air Pollution’ with the slogan- Beat Air Pollution.

At the function, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the National Environmental Award-2019 to three individuals and two organisations under two categories for their contributions to the environment.

Chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, noted Water and Climate Changes expert Prof Ainun Nishat and Scientific Adviser of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation Dr Mubarak Ahmad Khan received the environmental awards under the individual category.

Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) and Envoy Textiles Limited received the environmental awards under the organisation category.

The Prime Minister also handed over Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2019 and Prime Minister’s National Award for Tree Plantation-2018 at the event.

Besides, she handed over cheques among the beneficiaries for the profit earned from social forestation.

Hasina inaugurated Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Centre in Gazipur and the 12-storey Poribesh Bhaban in the city.

The Prime Minister opened the National Tree Plantation Campaign by planting a tamarind sapling on the BICC premise.

This year’s theme for the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair is ‘Forest and Ecology in Education, Building modern Bangladesh' Green.'

Source: unb