The 'National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2024' and 'Environment Fair' will begin in the capital today (Wednesday), marking the World Environment Day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 'National Tree Plantation Campaign & Tree Fair' and the 'Environment Fair' at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka today.
In presence of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Environment, Forest and Climate Change secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed revealed the information at a press conference at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.
The Environment Fair is going to be held at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar from June 5 to 11, while the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2024 from June 5 to July 13. The fairs will remain open from 9 am to 8 pm every day.
At the inaugural ceremony, Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2023 and 2024, the National Environment Award 2023 and Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation-2022 and 2023 will be conferred upon the award winners, while cheques will be distributed among the beneficiaries of social afforestation programme.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the national tree plantation campaign by planting two saplings of palash and wood-apple.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and other media including private television channels will air special programme, while newspapers will publish special supplements on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
All educational institutions at district and upazila levels and 100 educational institutions in Dhaka city will observe the environment day.
Painting competition for children, debate, essay and slogan competitions will be organised at different institutions marking the day.
Tree fair will be arranged at national, divisional, zila and upazila levels. Saplings will be distributed at different educational institutions. Key points of Dhaka city will be decorated with banner on the occasion.
8.33 crore saplings to be planted during upcoming monsoon: Saber
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the government will plant about 8.33 crore saplings across the country during the upcoming monsoon this year.
“The government has continued afforestation programme and projects for forest conservation, restoration of degraded forests and sustainable forest management,” he told a press conference at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
Saber Hossain said a total of 2,17,402 hectares blocks and 30,252 seedling km strip gardens were created from 2009-2010 to 2022-23, while around 11.21 crore saplings were distributed and planted.
Highlighting the various initiatives taken by the government to protect the environment and prevent land degradation, he said the government is implementing various projects, including sustainable land management project, to reduce land degradation and conserve biodiversity.
The environment minister said about 13 crore metric tonnes of top soil from arable land is being used in brick manufacturing in the country every year.
To reduce the use of top soil in brick kilns, he said, guidelines have been formulated for use of blocks instead of bricks in government construction works.
Saber Hossain said coordinated activities have been undertaken to recover encroached forest land.
“As a result, from October, 2020 to April, 2024, about 30,000 acres of occupied forest lands were recovered across the country and afforestation has been completed on those forest lands,” he said.
