Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh was one of the pioneers in the world in terms of coastal afforestation.

‘In the world, Bangladesh is one of the pioneers in coastal afforestation. As of now, the afforestation has been created in some 261,570 hectares in the coastal areas. We’ve created a green belt of 89,853 hectares since 2009,’ she said.

The prime minister was addressing a programme arranged in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre marking the World Environment Day-2024.

In the function, she also opened the Environment Fair-2024, the National Campaign for Tree Plantation and the Tree Fair-2024.

With the theme ‘land restoration, stopping desertification and building drought resilience,’ this year the World Environment Day 2024 is being observed throughout the world under the slogan — Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.

The prime minister urged all to plant trees in every possible place and make rooftop gardening to gain financially, relief from temperature and thus protect the environment.

‘I would like to request everyone to plant trees wherever you can. If you all plant trees wherever you have places — in offices, courts, mosques and Madrassahs — you will get relief from the temperature,’ she said.

She said everyone should at least plant a fruit tree, wood tree and herbal tree.

‘If you plant fruit-bearing trees, you will be able to eat fruits and if you plant wood trees, you will get good money selling wood,’ she added.

The prime minister inaugurated the Tree Plantation Campaign by planting two saplings — Palash and Bel (wood apple) trees with the theme — Decorate the country with trees, enrich Bangladesh (Brikkha Diye Sajai Desh, Samriddhi Kori Bangladesh).

She said her government’s goal was to protect the country, its people from natural disasters and save nature.

‘Some 8.38 crore saplings will be planted during this monsoon season. We’ve taken such a step,’ she said.

Noting that her party Awami League began a tree plantation campaign in 1985, AL president Sheikh Hasina asked every member of her party to plant at least three saplings — one fruit-bearing tree, one wood tree and one herbal tree during its month-long campaign from the first day of Bangla month Asharh.

She said that research was being continued to develop submergence-tolerant varieties of rice in a bid to sustain food security.

‘We’re conducting research for the development of submergence-tolerant varieties of rice. The 1998 flood lasted a long time in our country. The country had never witnessed such a long lasting flood before. So, we want the paddy to survive under the water for a longer period,’ she said.

The PM said the Awami League government, coming to power in 1996, started development of saline-tolerant varieties of rice for the cultivation in the country’s southern region and finally gained success in this regard.

She said that the country’s agricultural scientists also developed drought-tolerant varieties of rice.

‘In terms of development of drought-tolerant and submergence-tolerant varieties of rice, we’ve gained remarkable success but it will take some more days to start the commercial use of such varieties. We’ll definitely be able to do it. Then we need not to worry about food,’ she said.

‘Our efforts continue to develop not only saline-tolerant rice, but also saline-tolerant wheat, potato and vegetables,’ said Sheikh Hasina.

She stressed the need for exploring the natural ways for crop production in order to come out from the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

‘We’ve been implementing massive programmes for the development of coastal areas. But here one thing needs to be kept in mind about how we can do these in natural ways, not using chemical fertilisers and pesticides excessively,’ she said.

The prime minister handed over 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 among the best beneficiaries of social forestation.

Seven individuals in three categories received Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2023 and 2024, while three others and two organisations in five categories received the National Environment Medal-2023, 14 persons and organisations in seven categories got the National Awards for Tree Plantation 2022 and 2023, and 10 best beneficiaries of social forestation received cheques of the profit.

Each recipient was given the cash money equivalent to the price of two Vori 22-carat gold, a cheque of Tk 50,000, and a certificate under Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation, and the cash money equivalent to the price of two Vori 22-carat gold, a cheque of Tk 50,000, a crest and a certificate under the National Environment Medal.

Besides, the awardees for tree plantation were given a crest, a certificate and cash money. Of them, Tk 100,000 was given as the first prize, while Tk 75,000 as the second prize and Tk 50,000 as the third prize.

The Environment Fair will continue till June 11, while the tree plantation campaign till July 13. The fair will remain open for visitors from 9:00am to 8:00pm every day.

Some 30,000 acres of forest land has been reoccupied and afforestation has been completed there across the country from October, 2020 to April, 2024.

This year, some 8.33 lakh saplings will be planted throughout the country during the monsoon season.

Environment, forest and climate change minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury chaired the event, while chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Dipankar Talukder and environment secretary Farhina Ahmed spoke on the occasion.