Dhaka: Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and Chairman of the Cell for the Five-Year 25 Crore Tree Plantation Programme, Nazrul Islam Khan, underscored the importance of public engagement in the nationwide tree plantation initiative. He highlighted this priority during the second meeting of the cell tasked with implementing the programme, held at the Ministry of Environment’s conference room in the Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the programme aims to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, aligning with the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the government’s election manifesto. The meeting focused on key aspects vital for the programme’s success, such as sapling collection, selection of appropriate tree species, regional soil condition assessments, inter-ministerial coordination, and comprehensive activity monitoring.
Nazrul Islam Khan, who is also a member of the BNP Standing Committee, stated that the plantation efforts by various ministries, departments, and agencies, including the Local Government Division, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Agriculture, and Roads and Highways Division, will be overseen by the cell.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo announced a target to plant 5 crore trees in the first phase by 2026. He directed the Forest Department to consider soil types when selecting tree species and to follow the technical committee’s recommendations.
State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shaikh Faridul Islam, emphasized the necessity of taking measures to prevent deforestation alongside tree plantation. He mentioned that forest, fruit-bearing, and medicinal trees will be planted nationwide, adhering to the Forest Department’s directives as part of fulfilling the government’s election manifesto.
The meeting was attended by key figures including Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka Central University Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Islam, and technical expert Jamail Bashir. Secretaries, additional secretaries, and joint secretaries from relevant ministries also participated in the meeting.