More than a hundred organisations held simultaneous tree planting and human chain programmes across the country to mark World Environment Day 2026, in what is being called one of the country's largest environment-based citizens' initiatives.

World Environment Day was observed on Friday (5 June) with the theme "Plant trees, build a green Bangladesh". The programme is led by the environmental organisation Mission Green Bangladesh. Partners include the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University, Waterkeepers Bangladesh, the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), the Society for Asian Circular Innovation Network, Swapnopuri Kalyan Sangstha and the Project Management Institute (PMI). Sustainable Research and Consultancy Limited (SRCL) is the tracking and monitoring partner, along with more than a hundred other national and local environmental organisations. The organisers are working towards a long-term goal of planting and maintaining more than one million trees through this youth-led initiative to take the message of green to every district.

The organisers said tree planting is being carried out in every district with local volunteers. Trees will be planted permanently at schools, colleges, religious institutions, homesteads and other places where long-term care is possible. At least two fruit and forest saplings each will be given to poor local families as an environmentally friendly gift.

Human chains with placards demanding environmental protection were also held in district towns and important public places, where local guests and environmental activists spoke on conservation.

Sharif Jamil, coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, said the country's rivers, water bodies and whole ecosystem face an extreme crisis, and there is no alternative to involving ordinary people at the grassroots to tackle climate change and ensure a sustainable environment. He called the "simultaneous tree planting and human chain for the environment in 64 districts" a milestone in the country's history and said Waterkeepers Bangladesh was proud to be part of this historic citizens' movement of young people for environmental protection and climate justice.

Raufa Khanam, deputy director of C3ER, BRAC University, said Bangladesh is known globally as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, so effective, practical climate action in the field is needed most, not only institutional research. The initiative would help make future generations climate-resilient, she said.

Professor Dr Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of CAPS, said nationwide coordinated action is very important to tackle climate change and pollution, and the programme in 64 districts would play an important role in raising environmental awareness.

Barish Hasan Chowdhury, policy and campaign coordinator at BELA, said local people's participation must increase to ensure environmental justice, and the programme would make citizens more responsible and aware about protecting the environment.

Ahsan Rony, executive director of Mission Green Bangladesh, said the programme is not just a tree planting initiative but a movement to build a green and sustainable Bangladesh. "We believe a tree protects not only the environment but future generations," he said. "Through this programme in 64 districts we want to spread a sense of responsibility for environmental conservation to every person in the country."

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