Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a tree-planting programme in Gournadi, Barishal, by planting neem and hog plum (amra) saplings.

He arrived at 10am on Monday, 13 July, on the bank of the newly excavated Sharikal-Batajor canal in Batajor union of the upazila. The canal, which runs beside Batajor bazaar, is known locally as the Batajor canal. East of the bazaar it joins the Miarchar river by way of the Sharikal river.

Housewives and farmers greeted the prime minister from one bank of the canal, and the head of government waved back to the villagers.

Opening the programme, Tarique Rahman said the work would not end with planting a tree. Two and a half thousand saplings would be planted that day, he said, and everyone must look after them. "Just as you care for your own child after it is born, you must care for the young sapling every day in the same way."

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan and leaders of the local BNP and its associate organisations were with the prime minister.

After the tree-planting launch, the prime minister joined a family card distribution event in Batajor, where he was to hand family cards to the women who head households.

After finishing his programme in Gournadi, the prime minister set off by road for Barishal city. Thousands of party leaders and activists were waiting along both sides of the 40-kilometre route to greet him.

He was later due to open another tree-planting programme on the bank of the Sagardi canal, beside the Trish Godown killing field in the city.

This is Tarique Rahman's first visit to Barishal since the BNP won an absolute majority in the 13th parliamentary election and formed the government. He had come to Barishal on 4 February as part of the election campaign and addressed the party's election rally at Bells Park that day.

On the prime minister's instructions, no welcome gates bearing his picture were built, and there were no banners or festoons.

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