DHAKA, July 9, 2026 – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today inaugurated the World Environment Day and Environment Fair-2026 and the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2026, reaffirming the government’s commitment to environmental protection, afforestation and climate resilience. Report BSS
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka under the theme, “Let’s Beautify the Country Through Tree Plantation, Bangladesh Comes First.”
The programme began with recitations from the Holy Quran and other religious scriptures, followed by the screening of a documentary highlighting the government’s achievements in environmental conservation, forestry development and climate action.
During the program, the Prime Minister presented the National Environment Award-2025, National Wildlife Conservation Award-2026 and National Tree Plantation Award-2025. He also distributed dividend cheques among beneficiaries of the country’s social forestry programme.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo chaired the programme. Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Affairs Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez and State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam addressed the function as special guests.
Following the formal inauguration, the Prime Minister planted saplings of olive, jarul and neem trees on the conference centre premises. He later visited exhibition stalls at the month-long National Tree Fair being held at the former Dhaka International Trade Fair grounds.
The fair has been organized to encourage greater public participation in environmental conservation, afforestation and climate change mitigation initiatives.
Besides the month-long fair in Dhaka, 15-day tree fairs are being held in all seven divisional headquarters, seven-day fairs in 56 district headquarters and three-day fairs in 29 upazilas across the country. A total of 120 stalls are participating in the Dhaka exhibition.
As part of the government’s ambitious programme to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, a dedicated cell has been established under the Prime Minister’s Office to oversee implementation. The initiative will utilize Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing technology, a National Tree Database and drones to digitally monitor plantation activities nationwide.
According to government estimates, the programme will create around 350,000 green jobs and help establish 10,000 new nursery entrepreneurs, contributing to both environmental sustainability and rural employment.
The government says the initiative builds on Bangladesh’s long-standing afforestation movement. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman introduced the country’s first National Forest Policy in 1979 and transformed tree plantation into a nationwide movement. Later, in 1994, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia launched the National Tree Fair, significantly expanding participatory social forestry across the country.
Continuing that legacy, the present government is promoting technology-based and sustainable forest management to strengthen climate resilience and ecological balance.
Earlier, on June 13, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally launched the nationwide five-year tree plantation programme by planting a Garjan sapling in the Malumghat Reserved Forest at Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar.
