DHAKA, July 15, 2020 (BSS) – Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister M Shahab Uddin today said the government would plant over 7 crore trees across the country this year.
“Alongside the national tree plantation campaign, more than seven crore trees also would be planted across the country this year with the initiative of the forest department”, he said addressing a virtual press briefing ahead of 7 crore tree plantation programme here.
As a part of the Mujib Borsho celebration, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the distribution and plantation of one crore saplings across the country tomorrow.
“The premier will inaugurate the programme from her official Ganabhaban residence at 10:30 am marking the Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS today.
The prime minister will simultaneously inaugurate the National Tree Plantation Campaign 2020 through the same event.
The premier will inaugurate the distribution and plantation of one crore saplings across the country by planting saplings of ‘tamarind’ and ‘chhatian’ trees on Ganabhaban premises tomorrow.
After the inauguration of the programme by the prime minister, three saplings — one fruit, one wood, and one medicinal — will be officially planted in every district and upazila.
Later, 20,325 saplings will be planted in each of 492 upazilas of the country at a convenient time in the current tree plantation season from July 16 to Sept 15 by maintaining the health codes in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Shahab Uddin said.
“Following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who first started tree plantation drive in the country, this programme is being implemented in the ‘Mujib Year’ to maintain the balance of environment,” he added.
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar, Secretary Ziaul Hasan, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr AKM RafiqueAhamad, Additional Secretary Ahmed Shamim Al Razi , Chief Forest Conservator M Amir Hossain and other senior ministry officials were also attended the press briefing.