State Minister for Forests and Environment Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam, MP, inaugurated a tree plantation program organized at Nayabazar Degree College in ​​Keraniganj on Tuesday morning. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 11, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam today said the government is working with the goal of saving at least 25 crore trees across the country in the next five years to address climate change risks and maintain environmental balance.
 
Even if some trees are damaged due to natural disasters or other reasons, a total of 30 crore to 32crore saplings will be planted by replacing those, he said.
 
The state minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a tree plantation programme organised at Nayabazar Degree College in Keraniganj upazila this morning.

Faridul Islam said, "We are working with this slogan in mind: 'We will beautify the country with tree plantation, Bangladesh first'."

He said the ministry is directly monitoring how many trees are being planted and how those are being properly cared for and maintained.

Recounting his experience of visiting Cox's Bazar, he said 40 lakh saplings have been planted in a single district - Cox's Bazar.
 
"People are planting trees very spontaneously and taking care of those, which is a great hope for us in protecting the environment," he said.

Recalling the country's temperature rise due to climate change, the state minister said Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, so it is important to increase family tree planting to check temperature rise and maintain normal rainfall.

Mentioning that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced 'One Child, One Tree' programme, he said each student will plant a sapling and grow it in their own way - this is their expectation.

Emphasising environmental cleanliness and the ban on polythene, he further said, "We should develop the habit of using dustbins instead of throwing garbage or tissues at roadsides."

In addition, Faridul said, the use of single-use polythene should be stopped in grocery shops, fruit shops or kitchen markets.

"If the use of non-biodegradable polythene is reduced, waterlogging and plastic pollution will be largely addressed," he said.

Speaking as a special guest at the event, Alhaj Aman Ullah Aman, MP from Dhaka-2, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken a five-year plan to plant 25 crore trees.

As part of that, five crore trees will be planted this year, he said.
 
Presided over by Dr Lubna Sharmin, President of Bangladesh Rotary International, the event was attended, among others, by Keraniganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Umar Faruk, Principal of Nayabazar Degree College Abdul Malek, Keraniganj Model Upazila BNP Acting President Md. Shamim Hasan, its Joint Secretary Monir Hossain, local political and civil society leaders, teachers and students.

Later, the guests planted saplings there.