Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for making green Bengal greener by planting trees to protect the country from the impact of climate change. She asked everyone to plant at least one fruit, one timber and one medicinal tree.

The prime minister said this while opening the "National Tree Plantation Campaign 2021" at Ganabhaban on Saturday (June 5), World Environment Day. She inaugurated the campaign by planting fig and sonalu trees on the Ganabhaban grounds.

"Today, on World Environment Day, I planted trees myself. At the same time I call on the people of the country to plant trees wherever they find space, however little," the head of government said.

She said it would be best if everyone could plant three trees, and if not, at least one. "We want you to plant one fruit tree, one timber tree and one medicinal tree."

"For protecting the environment and for one's own financial well-being, what is most useful in every respect is planting trees on a large scale," the prime minister said.

Stressing care for trees, she said: "All of you should plant trees and take care of them. Planting alone is not enough; they must be cared for so they survive. A tree will give fruit, timber or medicine, and you will benefit in many ways."

The prime minister said: "We must protect the environment. This country is ours. To protect the country from the impact of climate change today, we must make our green Bengal greener. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave us independence. We want to build Bangladesh as Sonar Bangla."

"Let us all plant trees widely in this country and make our Sonar Bangla an even more golden, green Bengal," she said.

Speaking of Bangladesh's success in afforestation, the prime minister, in office for three consecutive terms, said: "Today's Bangladesh is a developing country. We will move forward. We have had much success in afforestation. Because of the steps we have taken, about 22 percent forest cover has been created today. Besides, gardens are being created at family level. Everyone is now aware."

Deputy press secretary to the prime minister KM Shakhawat Moon said Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Shahab Uddin, Secretary Ziaul Hasan and the prime minister's speech writer Md Nazrul Islam, among others, were present with the prime minister during the planting.

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