'One Child, One Tree' programme launched at a Manikganj primary school

A 'One Child, One Tree' programme was launched on Sunday, 19 July 2026, at Nabagram Government Primary School in Manikganj Sadar upazila. Its aim is to put a tree sapling in every child's hand and involve children in building a green, liveable environment for the next generation. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam inaugurated it as chief guest at an event organised by the Manikganj Sadar upazila administration. Jagonews24 reported it the same day, citing a press release from the Department of Information.

A photograph published with the Jagonews24 report shows the minister handing a sapling to a child. In her speech she said the event was a pledge to build a green Bangladesh for the next generation: to put a tree in every child's hand and begin a better future through a single tree.

She added that development is not only about building bridges, roads or buildings, and that it is meaningful only when nature is protected, the environment is safe and people are aware. Planting a tree, she said, is not just planting a sapling but a pledge, a responsibility and a gift to the next generation. Officials of the Manikganj district and upazila administrations and local dignitaries attended.

Earlier, on 15 July, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman opened a nationwide tree-planting programme for government primary schools, together with a 'Green School' programme for primary pupils, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon, Dhaka. He asked children to plant and look after one tree every year, at school or near their homes.

According to an NTV Online report of 8 July, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education planned to plant about 2 lakh (200,000) saplings at the same time in government primary schools across the country. The main points were:

• at least three saplings planted and cared for in every government primary school;
• three kinds of tree, fruit, timber and medicinal, to make school grounds greener, healthier and more environment-friendly;
• in the words of State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, protecting the environment, tackling the harmful effects of climate change and building pupils' love of nature and environmental awareness.

The published reports do not say whether the Manikganj 'One Child, One Tree' programme was part of this nationwide drive.

Bangla Tribune reported on 15 July that the prime minister announced a programme to plant 25 crore (250 million) trees across the country over the next five years through volunteer work and government initiatives, with a target of 5 crore (50 million) a year. To grow the saplings, he said, the government planned to develop 10,000 new nursery entrepreneurs, which it expected to employ about 2.5 lakh (250,000) people.

Manikganj is a district of Dhaka Division covering 1,383.66 square kilometres. The Padma, Jamuna, Dhaleshwari, Ichamati and Kaliganga rivers flow through it. Its seven upazilas are Daulatpur, Ghior, Harirampur, Manikganj Sadar, Saturia, Shivalaya and Singair.

Photo: Adib Ehsan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sources: Jagonews24, NTV Online, Bangla Tribune, bdnews24.com, Wikipedia