Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin said at present the country’s forest area is 17.5 percent whereas a country should have at least 25 percent forest coverage to meet the ecological balance. The research conducted by scientists of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) will hopefully help increasing the forest land of the country.
He made the comments while addressing a meeting of environment ministry officials with BFRI officials and scientists on Sunday morning after visiting BFRI Chattogram office. BFRI Director Dr Khurshid Akter presided over the meeting while Chief Research Officer Md Masudur Rahman delivered the welcome speech.
In the meeting, various research activities of BFRI were highlighted.
At BFRI, he visited the Germplasm Center, Nursery Laboratory, Technology Park and other significant projects of the institute.
The minister was accompanied by the deputy minister of environment Habibun Nahar and Secretary Abdullah Al-Mohsin Chowdhury, Additional Secretary Alamgir Mu Mansur ul Alam and Md Shafiul Alam Chowdhury.
At the end of the visit a mutual meeting of ministers, deputy ministers and secretaries was held with BFRI officials and scientists.
After the inspection, the minister planted a tree sapling on BFRI campus.