State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain spoke as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Mymensingh  Divisional Tree Fair. Photo: BSS

MYMENSINGH, July 18, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Disaster Management and 
Relief M Iqbal Hossain today said there is no alternative to large-scale tree 
plantation for maintaining ecological balance, increasing oxygen supply and 
achieving economic prosperity.

"Tree plantation harms no one; rather, it benefits the people, the 
government, and the country as a whole. The government has decided to plant 
25 crore trees over the next five years. To achieve this target, nursery 
owners must start producing high-quality saplings from now," he said while 
speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Mymensingh 
Divisional Tree Fair held on the premises of the Mymensingh Circuit House 
this noon.

Chaired by Mymensingh Additional Deputy Commissioner Reza Md Golam Masum 
Pradhan the function was addressed, among others, by Mymensingh-4 lawmaker 
Abu Wahab Akand Wahid, Mymensingh City Corporation Administrator Md 
Rukunuzzaman Rokon and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan.

The state minister said priority should be given to producing and planting 
high-value tree saplings. People could benefit economically in the future by 
planting trees. He urged everyone to come forward to produce and plant 
quality saplings of valuable tree species in a planned manner, he added.

Earlier, a colourful rally, organised by the district administration and the 
Mymensingh Forest Division, paraded through different roads of the city 
before concluding at the Circuit House premises. After the rally, the chief 
guest visited various stalls at the tree fair and took part in a tree 
plantation programme.