Environment, forest and climate change ministry will hold month-long ‘National Tree Plantation Campaign’ and week-long ‘Tree Fair 2022’ across the country as part of the World Environment Day programme.

‘National Tree Plantation Campaign’ will be held from June 5 to July 4 while ‘Tree Fair 2022’ will take place from June 5-11. The theme of this year is ‘Brikhaprane Prokriti-Protibesh, Agami Projanmer Teksai Bangladesh’.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually inaugurate the ‘National Tree Plantation Campaign’ and ‘Tree Fair 2022’ tomorrow at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre from her official Ganabhaban residence, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin at a press conference here on June 2.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages wishing the success of the ‘National Tree Plantation Campaign’ and ‘Tree Fair 2022’.

In his message, President M Abdul Hamid said the importance of trees are immense in conservation of environment and wildlife, prevention of deforestation and natural disasters and socio-economic development of the people as well as ensuring sustainable development.

He said people need to be encouraged to plant fruit-bearing and medicinal saplings that are suitable to the country’s weather and soil to make the tree plantation campaign successful and sustainable. Along with it, the people will be given guidance on how tress can be nurtured properly, he added.

The President highly appreciated the environment ministry for taking steps to distribute ‘Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2020 and 2021’ and ‘Prime Minister’s National Award for Tree Plantation 2019 and 2020’. He congratulated those who got these two awards.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message congratulated those who got ‘Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2020 and 2021’ and ‘Prime Minister’s National Award for Tree Plantation 2019 and 2020’.

She said the role of tree is undeniable in fulfilling the fundamental demands of the people and ecological balance. The Awami League government has attached priority to sustainable environment and environment protection and involved people in forest management and social forestation, she added.

At present, forests cover country’s 22.37 percent area and the government has been implementing various programmes to increase such coverage to 25 percent by 2030.

The premier urged everyone to plant fruit-bearing and medicinal plants.