DHAKA, June 19, 2019 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted recipients of ‘Prime Ministers National Award for Tree Plantation-2018’ and ‘Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2019’ and those, who are enjoying profit of social forestry.
In separate messages, they greeted the awardees on the eve of the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2019.
Wishing success of the tree fair, they said this year’s theme “Shikkhay Bon Poribesh, Adhunik Bangladesh (Forest, Ecology in Education: Modern Bangladesh)” is time-befitting.
In his message, President Hamid said, “Trees are our invaluable asset. Trees play vital role in ensuring clean air, dealing with adverse effect of climate change and protecting public life and properties during natural calamities”.
Effective measures should be taken on priority basis to protect the forests for the sake of ‘our’ existence, he said, adding highest use of land should be ensured by planting trees on uncultivated and unused land, rooftop and roadsides.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh is one of the mostly populated countries in the world. Increased population is the main obstacle in protecting the forest region. The government (however) is committed to meet basic needs of the people through socioeconomic development”.
The government has taken massive aforestation programmes in treeless, depletion and marginal lands and coastal regions of the country, she said.
Referring to the government’s different initiatives for development of the country’s forest areas, the premier said people from all strata will play effect role by increasing forest resources and preserving environment and ecology through planting high yielding, climate and environment friendly saplings collecting from the tree fair.