Desk Report:
In the next five years, 250 million saplings will be planted across the country on a priority basis, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo. He said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced a five-point plan called ‘National Green Mission’ to protect forests, wildlife, environment and biodiversity.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of World Wildlife Day at the Forest Building in Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday (March 11, 2026). The theme of this year’s day was – ‘Conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants: Health, heritage and livelihood development’. State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam was present at the time.
The minister said that according to the government’s election manifesto, about 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals in the country will be dredged and re-dragged, so that aquatic biodiversity is protected and natural balance is maintained. At the same time, harmful plastics and toxic chemicals from industrial factories will be gradually banned and environmentally friendly alternatives will be introduced.
He also said that salinity-tolerant agricultural systems will be introduced in the southern region and sustainable infrastructure will be built to address the risks of climate change. He also mentioned that the issue of environment and biodiversity conservation will be included in the school curriculum to make future generations aware.
The minister said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has accepted environmental protection as part of his political program. At the same time, he recalled the nationwide canal excavation program and tree plantation drive started on the initiative of former President Ziaur Rahman. He said that the Environment Pollution Control Project started in 1977 was later transformed into the current Forest Department.
The minister also said that about 200 hectares of mangrove gardens will be created in the islands and coastal char areas of Chittagong, Bhola and Patuakhali districts, so that a green belt will be created along the coast. Under social forestry, 1.1 million saplings will be planted on the marginal land of roads, highways and embankments, the maintenance of which will be the responsibility of the local poor people. They will get a large part of the money from the sale of these trees after the specified period. He called for planting forest, fruit and medicinal trees such as betel nut, mango, mahogany, shilkarai, kadam, jam, mahua, behera, arjun, neem, haritaki, jackfruit and chalta in the household.
At the same time, State Minister for Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, speaking as a special guest, said that wildlife has a greater role than forest guards in protecting the biodiversity and forests of the Sundarbans. He said that everything is closely linked to life and nature and wildlife self-treats its diseases in its natural environment. He warned about the protection of the internal resources of the Sundarbans, saying, “Poisoning fish in the Sundarbans will not be accepted in any way, it must be stopped immediately.”
The program was chaired by the Chief Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department, Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dr. Farhina Ahmed, spoke as a special guest. In addition, officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the Forest Department and the Department of Environment, environmental experts, students of various universities and media personnel were present.
