Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Launches National Tree Plantation Campaign and Environment Fair
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the World Environment Day programs, the National Tree Plantation Campaign, and the Tree Fair 2026 on Thursday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Dhaka. Held under the theme "Decorating the country with trees, Bangladesh comes first," the event marks a renewed national commitment to ecological preservation and climate resilience.
The proceedings began with multi-faith scripture recitations, followed by a documentary highlighting the current government’s recent achievements in the forestry and climate change sectors. During the ceremony, the Prime Minister conferred the National Environment Award 2025, the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2026, and the National Tree Plantation Award 2025. Additionally, he distributed profit-sharing checks to beneficiaries of the country's social forestry programs.
The event, presided over by Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintu, also featured addresses from special guests, including the Prime Minister’s special assistant on environment and climate affairs, Md. Saimum Parvez, and State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam. Following the formal ceremony, the Prime Minister planted saplings of olive, jarul, and neem trees on the exhibition center premises before touring the national tree fair, which features 120 stalls.
Organized to boost public involvement in environmental conservation and forest expansion, the national campaign will extend beyond the capital. While the Dhaka fair continues for a month, regional tree fairs are scheduled across the country, spanning 15 days in seven divisional cities, seven days in 56 district headquarters, and three days in 29 upazilas.
To support the government's ambitious master plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, a specialized cell has been established under the Prime Minister’s Office. This initiative will employ digital monitoring tools, including GIS, remote sensing, drone technology, and a national tree database, to ensure transparency and effectiveness. The government expects this effort to generate approximately 350,000 green jobs and foster 10,000 new nursery entrepreneurs.
This national focus on environmental stewardship follows a long tradition of forest-based development in Bangladesh. Former President Ziaur Rahman pioneered the movement by establishing the nation's first national forest policy in 1979, while former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the national tree fair in 1994, significantly expanding the social forestry model. The current administration aims to build upon this legacy by integrating modern technology into sustainable forest management practices.
