Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presents a Tk 2.0-million family savings certificate to the family of July Uprising martyr Md Wasim at Pekua in Cox's Bazar on Saturday. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, was also present. — PID COX'S BAZAR, June 13 (BSS): Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged every citizen of the country to plant at least one tree sapling to build a clean and pollution-free environment for the next generation.
"Thinking about your children's future and keeping in mind that they should be able to breathe freely in a beautiful environment, please plant at least one tree sapling wherever possible from today," he said.
The premier made the call after formally inaugurating a nationwide programme to plant 250 million (25 crore) trees by planting a garjan sapling at the Malumghat Reserved Forest in Dulahazara on Saturday.
"Let us give our future generations a guarantee that we will build a clean and pollution-free environment where they can live in healthy surroundings," he said.
Referring to his election pledge, Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, said before the election, BNP made promise to launch a nationwide tree-planting programme.
"Our goal would be to plant at least 5 crore trees every year. Over the next five years, we will plant 25 crore tree saplings. If we all work together, we will be able to transform Bangladesh's air into something much cleaner, purer and healthier in the days ahead," he said.
He asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) to take every possible initiative to turn their respective districts into beautiful green sanctuaries.
According to bdnews24.com, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation of Patali Canal in Cox's Bazar, the same waterway his father dug with his own hands nearly five decades ago.
On Saturday at 10:50am, he arrived at PM Khali Union under Sadar Upazila and, braving heavy rain, picked up a spade to formally launch the work, mirroring the moment late president Ziaur Rahman did the same in November 1979.
The prime minister stepped off his flight in pouring rain before travelling by road to the site, where over a thousand villagers had gathered along the canal bank since morning, waiting to catch a glimpse of him.
After inaugurating the work, he took to a makeshift stage beside the canal to wave to the crowd.
Several ministers accompanied him, including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who is also the MP for Cox's Bazar-1; Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee; State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad; Civil Aviation and Tourism State Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat; Local Government Minister Mir Shahe Alam; Chattogram Hill Tracts and Land State Minister Mir Md Helal Uddin; and Jute and Textile State Minister Shariful Alam.
Cox's Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman Kajol and Chattogram-10 MP Sayeed Al Noman were also present.
MP Kajol said the canal carries historical significance, noting that its original development had drawn international attention, with visits from the then World Bank president Robert McNamara, Nepal's King Birendra Shah Dev, Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the then Sri Lankan prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
The canal had at the time brought around 12,000 hectares of uncultivated land under farming, sparking what Kajol described as an unprecedented green revolution in the rural economy.
It fell into disuse after five to six years due to neglect, silting up over time, with parts falling under illegal encroachment and leaving local farmers without irrigation water for years, he said.
According to the MP, the 8-km canal is expected to benefit around 40,000 people once re-excavated.
Farmer Jahed Ali said it meant a great deal to see the son of the man who first dug the canal return to restore it.
Once the work is done, he said, farmers would no longer have to worry about irrigation water for their crops.
Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman visited the grave of Wasim, a martyr of 2024 July uprising, in Pekua upazila of Cox's Bazar.
The PM visited the grave in the Mehernama Bazarpara area of the upazila and offered fateha there, said Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
A munajat was also offered praying for the salvation of the departed soul.
Later, the PM met the family members of Wasim and enquired about their wellbeing. As a gesture of support, he handed over savings certificates worth Tk 2.0 million to his mother Josna Begum. Wasim, a second-year student of the Sociology Department at Chattogram College and a member of the Chhatra Dal's college unit, was killed on July 16, 2024.
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