World Environment Day was observed on 5 June under the theme "Only One Earth: Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature". Various activities were held worldwide to encourage eco-friendly and sustainable living in harmony with nature.

Marking the day and its significance, the prime minister inaugurated the national tree-planting campaign. In solidarity with the government of Bangladesh, Bonayan, the largest tree-planting programme in the private sector, entered its 42nd year and began distributing 5 million saplings. To carry out the initiative, the project raised seedlings with care in more than 20 nurseries across the country.

Bonayan began in 1980 in response to the government's call for tree planting. With the aim of restoring ecosystems in different regions, it has so far distributed more than 11.5 crore forest, fruit and medicinal saplings free of charge and set up 119 biodiversity centres around the country.

Its work directly supports the government in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG-13, Climate Action, and SDG-15, Life on Land. Through the programme, the project is helping the government reach its target of tree cover on 25 per cent of Bangladesh's land by 2030.

Bonayan has extended its work to more than 18 districts, including Dhaka, Mymensingh, Manikganj, Tangail, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, Natore, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Jashore, Chattogram, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati and Noakhali (Bhasan Char).

For its contribution to greening and to tackling the effects of climate change, Bonayan has won many awards at home and abroad. Notable among them are the Prime Minister's National Award, won five times, and the Chief Adviser's National Award, won once. It also received the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award from Enterprise Asia in recognition of green leadership, and the Bangladesh Innovation Award 2021 in the SDG inclusion category.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.