Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on Wednesday that Bangladesh is a global leader in coastal afforestation efforts.

"Bangladesh is a pioneer in coastal afforestation, having developed 261,570 hectares of coastal green spaces to date. Since 2009, we've established a green belt spanning 89,853 hectares," she stated.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a World Environment Day-2024 event held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka. During the event, she also inaugurated the Environment Fair-2024, the National Tree Plantation Campaign, and the Tree Fair-2024.

This year's World Environment Day theme is "land restoration, stopping desertification and building drought resilience," with the slogan "Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration."

The Prime Minister urged everyone to plant trees and engage in rooftop gardening to improve financial well-being, reduce temperatures, and protect the environment.

"I urge everyone to plant trees wherever possible... in offices, courts, mosques, and madrasas, to get relief from the heat and create rooftop gardens," she advised.

She emphasized planting at least one fruit-bearing tree, one wood tree, and one herbal tree.

"Planting fruit-bearing trees will provide food, while wood trees can be a valuable source of income," she added.

The Prime Minister kickstarted the Tree Plantation Campaign by planting two saplings: Palash and Bel (wood apple) trees, under the theme "Decorate the country with trees, enrich Bangladesh" (Brikkha Diye Sajai Desh, Samriddhi Kori Bangladesh).

She reiterated her government's commitment to protecting the country and its people from natural disasters and conserving nature.

"During this monsoon season, we plan to plant 8.38 crore saplings. This initiative is part of our efforts," she noted.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Awami League's history of tree planting campaigns, which began in 1985, and urged party members to plant three saplings each - one fruit-bearing, one wood, and one herbal tree - during the month-long campaign starting from the first day of Asharh, a Bangla month.

Advancements in Submergence-Tolerant Rice Research

Sheikh Hasina also discussed ongoing research to develop submergence-tolerant rice varieties to enhance food security.

"We are researching submergence-tolerant rice varieties. The 1998 flood lasted unusually long, prompting us to develop paddy that can survive prolonged flooding," she said.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the Awami League government initiated the development of saline-tolerant rice varieties in 1996 for cultivation in southern regions, achieving success.

She acknowledged the progress in developing drought-tolerant rice varieties and noted that more research is needed before commercial use can begin.

"In developing drought-tolerant and submergence-tolerant rice, we have made significant strides, but more work is needed before commercial deployment. We are confident that we will succeed, ensuring food security," she affirmed.

Sheikh Hasina also emphasized exploring natural methods for crop production to reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

"We have major programs for coastal area development. It's important to consider natural methods over excessive chemical use," she said.

Award Ceremonies

During the event, the Prime Minister presented several awards, including the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation (2023 and 2024), the National Environment Medal (2023), the National Awards for Tree Plantation (2022 and 2023), and cheques to top beneficiaries of social forestry programs.

Recipients of the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation received cash equivalent to the value of two Vori (22-carat gold), a cheque for Tk 50,000, and a certificate. Winners of the National Environment Medal received similar awards plus a crest.

Tree plantation awardees received a crest, certificate, and cash prizes: Tk 100,000 for first place, Tk 75,000 for second place, and Tk 50,000 for third place.

The Environment Fair will run until June 11, and the tree plantation campaign will continue until July 13, with the fair open to visitors from 9 am to 8 pm daily.

From October 2020 to April 2024, approximately 30,000 acres of forest land have been reclaimed and reforested nationwide. This monsoon season, 8.33 lakh saplings will be planted across the country.

The event was chaired by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, with remarks from Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Dipankar Talukder and Environment Secretary Farhina Ahmed.