Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday formally launched the nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years.
He opened the tree plantation programme around 2:55pm by planting a garjan sapling at the Malumghat Reserve Forest at Dulahazara of Pankhali in the Sadar upazila of the district.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and other ministers and lawmakers simultaneously planted saplings of 11 different species.
The prime minister personally visited the plantation sites and observed the activities.
Mintoo presided over the inaugural ceremony of the tree plantation programme, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam and Secretary of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Mohammed Rayhan Kaosar were present on the occasion, among others.
The BNP had pledged in its election manifesto to plant 25 crore trees across the country over five years after assuming office. By launching the programme at Malumghat, the prime minister initiated the implementation of another electoral commitment.
According to official sources, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will implement the massive tree plantation programme over the next five years to help protect the environment and address the impacts of climate change.
Following the BNP’s landslide victory in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections and the formation of the Tarique Rahman government on 17 February, several pilot programmes were launched across the country, including the Family Card programme in Korail slum in Dhaka, the Farmers’ Card programme in Tangail, and the Notun Kuri Sports Programme in Sylhet, in line with electoral pledges.
Simultaneously, the government introduced honorarium allowances for imams, muezzins, and religious leaders of different faiths, along with honorariums and sports cards for athletes.
