DHAKA, Sept 29, 2020 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud
today said tree plantation programme across the country under the
dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has turned into a
movement.
“Our leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took tree plantation
programme after taking charge as President of Awami League. She had
initiated a month-long tree plantation programme in 1983 through
Krishak League,” he told newsmen after planting a sapling on the
premises of Sangsad Bhaban marking the birth centenary of Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Hasan said, later, the premier (Sheikh Hasina) had taken various
measures to expedite the tree plantation programme after taking office
in 1996. Now-a-days, the people buy saplings from markets along with
other commodities, he added.
The minister said the slogan of ‘planting fruit, herbal and timber
bearing trees’ given by the prime minister has helped increase the
country’s afforestation to a great extent in the past 11 years.
“At the same time, if we include social forestry, roadside
forestry, the amount of forest coverage has increased by several
percent compared to 2008. It was possible as the premier has turned
the three plantation programme into a movement,” he added.
The information minister said tree gives multidimensional services
to people side by side with providing flowers, fruits and life saving
oxygen.
The minister expressed his sincere thanks to the Speaker of the
parliament for taking the tree plantation programme.