Plant a tree for every newborn: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday called for concerted efforts to make Bangladesh a safe habitat for all living beings, saying protecting wildlife and preserving the environment should be a shared responsibility of the government and citizens.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the World Environment Day programme, Environment Fair 2026 and the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, he urged people to turn tree plantation and environmental protection into a nationwide social movement.

"Bangladesh can build a greener and healthier future only through united efforts. Bangladesh should become a safe habitat for all animals and all forms of life," the Prime Minister said.

He said biodiversity is under growing threat from population growth, climate change, unplanned urbanisation, the filling of rivers and wetlands, deforestation and other human activities, putting the habitats of wildlife and aquatic species at risk.

Stressing the need to protect all forms of life, Tarique Rahman urged people not to be cruel to wild animals or treat dogs and cats inhumanely, saying every species plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance.

Recalling his time in London, he shared how a neighbour had planted a rose tree for each of his three children when they were born. Inspired by that experience, he urged every family in Bangladesh to plant at least one tree whenever a child is born so that the child and the tree could grow together, helping turn tree plantation into a successful social movement.

The Prime Minister said the government has adopted a long-term plan to increase forest coverage and restore ecological balance through large-scale tree plantation and proper care of saplings. He reiterated the government's pledge to plant 25 crore trees within five years, stressing the need to prioritise suitable native species, including medicinal, fruit-bearing, bamboo, timber and endangered trees, while protecting existing mature trees.

He also highlighted the importance of protecting rivers, saying the government's programme to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals would improve irrigation and strengthen climate adaptation. He added that the government is working to reduce plastic waste, promote recycling, produce organic fertiliser and convert waste into energy under the "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" policy.

During the programme, Tarique Rahman presented the National Environment Award 2025, the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2026 and the National Tree Plantation Award 2025. He also distributed dividend cheques among beneficiaries of the social forestry programme before planting a tree sapling and visiting stalls at the National Tree Fair.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is going to Barishal on July 13. He will visit the summer exercises of the army camp in Gournadi in the district and will also participate in a tree plantation programme and an organisational meeting.

According to the official itinerary signed by Prime Minister's Protocol Officer Md Ujjal Hossain, Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka by road at 9am. 

His first programme will be an inspection of the summer exercises at the temporary army camp in Gournadi Kasba. After the inspection, the prime minister will join a tree plantation programme beside the newly re-excavated Sarikal-Batajore canal in Batajore Union of Gournadi at 10:30am. 

At 11:30am, he is scheduled to take part in another tree plantation programme near the Sagardi canal adjacent to the Trish Godown Memorial in Barishal city.

In the afternoon, Tarique Rahman will attend an organisational meeting at the Barishal Shilpakala Academy with leaders of the Barishal city, north and south district BNP and its associate bodies before returning to Dhaka by road.

A preparatory meeting organised by the Barishal Deputy Commissioner's Office was held to review arrangements for the visit. The meeting was attended by Barishal City Corporation Administrator and BNP Organising Secretary Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin, Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Md Mamun Khandaker, Barishal Zila Parishad Administrator and BNP Central Co-Organising Secretary Akon Kuddusur Rahman, senior government officials, and local BNP leaders.