Inauguration of National Tree Planting Campaign and Tree Fair 2024 on World Environment Day

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the Awami League plants trees while the BNP destroys them. Our tree planting and nature conservation and development is a continuous process. She made these remarks at the inauguration ceremony of World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2024 and National Tree Planting Campaign and Tree Fair 2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Wednesday.

Awami League Plants Trees, BNP Destroys Them

The Prime Minister said that during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government from 2001 to 2006 and the subsequent two years, this continuity was not maintained. In 2013, in the name of the movement to overthrow the government, people were killed. Buses, trucks, cars, trains, and launches were set on fire, and trees were cut down. Jamaat-BNP cut down millions of trees. They destroyed the trees we planted. This is unfortunate. She further said that in 1984, the Awami League decided to implement the tree planting program and assigned this responsibility to the Krishak League, an affiliated organization of the Awami League. Every member of the main Awami League and its affiliated organizations was instructed to plant trees, and we continue to follow that directive.

Sheikh Hasina said it is our duty to protect the people of this country. We want to free the country from the adverse effects of climate change. With this goal in mind, we are taking various measures, similar to those taken by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu. She said that in 1972, the Father of the Nation adopted various plans for environmental conservation. He took steps to create a green environment in the Racecourse Ground in Dhaka. On July 16, 1972, he conducted the Tree Planting Week program there. He greatly encouraged people to plant trees. The casuarina forest on Cox’s Bazar beach was planted on the initiative of the Father of the Nation. Moreover, extensive tree planting was carried out in our island regions, especially in the chars (river islands), and every species of animal and bird was released in pairs there. The Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu, started this.

Sheikh Hasina said, plastic is still used, but the good news is that a type of bag and items made from jute are being produced. These were invented by our scientist, Mr. Mobarak. These won’t pollute the environment as they decompose naturally. They have been integrated with the industry for commercial use. Jute is our golden fiber. We can produce many environmentally friendly items from jute, which will protect our environment further. We are taking steps for that.

The Prime Minister said that globally, 100 million hectares of arable land are degraded every year, threatening 50 percent of global GDP. By 2030, 50 million people worldwide are at risk of displacement. Bangladesh is a densely populated country with very limited land and resources.

The event was presided over by Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury. Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Dipankar Talukdar also spoke at the event. After the ceremony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2024 and the National Tree Planting Campaign and Tree Fair 2024.

Tags: Bangladesh