Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stressed ensuring transparency in implementing a program to plant 250 million new trees over five years. He said it is not enough to simply announce tree planting — there must be an accurate account of how many trees have actually been planted.
He made the remarks Thursday (July 9) at the inaugural ceremony of World Environment Day and Environment Fair-2026, along with the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2026, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital.
Citing an example, the prime minister said a large number of trees were cut down during construction of the railway line from Dulahazara to Cox’s Bazar. The government had subsequently announced that 700,000 trees had been planted there. But an inquiry found that, in reality, at most 200,000 trees had been planted.
“Although it was said that 700,000 trees were planted, it later emerged that at most around 200,000 trees were actually planted. This is truly regrettable,” he said.
The prime minister further said trees cannot simply be planted at will. Plantation must take into account which tree species are suitable for a given area’s soil, climate and environment.
He said tree planting is important not only for protecting the environment but also for ensuring a safe and good life for future generations. Calling for building this into a social movement, he said: “When a child is born, let us make that birth memorable by planting a tree. Let both the child and the tree grow up together.”
Highlighting the government’s environment-friendly initiatives, the prime minister said various programs are being implemented for environmental conservation alongside greening efforts. If these initiatives succeed, it will be possible to build a safe, healthy and green Bangladesh for future generations.
He said climate change is no longer a future risk — it is a present reality. Cyclones, floods, droughts, heat waves, river erosion and salinity are having a major impact on the country’s agriculture, health, economy and daily life. That is why the government considers the environment one of the pillars of national development.
Emphasizing the need to improve waste management, the prime minister said there is no alternative to building modern waste management systems in all cities and towns across the country, including the capital. The government is working to reduce plastic waste, produce organic fertilizer, promote recycling, generate energy from waste, and implement the reduce, reuse and recycle (3R) policy.
He said waste management is not solely the government’s responsibility — responsible behavior from every citizen is also essential. Urging everyone to dispose of waste in designated places, he said: “Stay healthy yourself, and keep the environment clean for your family too.”
At the event, chaired by Forest and Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, the prime minister’s special assistant on environment, forest and climate affairs Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez and State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Lion Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam spoke as special guests.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report