Bangladesh's forestland to be raised to 25pc: PM

FE Team | Published: July 16, 2020 23:53:25

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government has been working to raise the country's forestland to 25 percent as forestation is very essential to protect the environment, report agencies.
"When we formed government in 1996, the country's forest coverage was only 7 percent and then we raised it to 17 percent. Now, our target is to enhance the (forest) coverage to 25 percent and we're working relentlessly to achieve the goal," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the plantation campaign of one crore saplings as part of the celebration of 'Mujib Year' marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She opened the countrywide programme by planting three saplings-'Tamarind,' 'Chhatian' and 'Chalta' trees - on the premises of her official residence Ganobhaban in the morning.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken this programme aiming to raise forestation and create a 'greenbelt' across the country.
She said Bangabandhu inaugurated the tree plantation programme by planting saplings on his own after the independence of the country. "So, we've taken this step in his memory. We're taking it (tree plantation programme) every year."
The Prime Minister urged the people of the country to plant saplings anyhow in their lands, create rooftop gardens or plant saplings at pots on balconies.
"I would like to urge all to plant trees at places whatever you have and whatever you can. Those, who live in towns, can plant trees on rooftops or tubs of the balcony of their house," she said.
She continued: "If you plant trees, you feel good and your mind will remain always fresh. Besides it will bring your solvency … you feel well if you eat a green chilli of the tree planted by yourself. So, let's come to plant trees together."
"Bangladesh is a deltaic country and let's come to protect and develop it by planting trees in a massive way," she added.
The prime minister also said that the plantation of trees is very much essential for ensuring food and nutrition of the people alongside their economic prosperity.
"Keeping this in mind, our party Bangladesh Awami League has been planting trees since 1984 and we start the tree plantation campaign every year on the first day of Bengali month of Ashar," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Krishak League first took this initiative and now all associate bodies of Awami League are planting trees together.
The prime minister recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first initiated the tree plantation campaign after independence.
"Today, we take the programme in his memory," she said, adding this programme has been taken to create aforestation and green belt across the country.
Sheikh Hasina said from the beginning she is urging the people to plant at least three trees - one fruit, one wood and one medicinal.