Desk Report:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged government officials to go beyond their prescribed duties and take proactive initiatives to protect the nation’s environment and forests, while also emphasizing the need to raise public awareness. He further stressed that everyone, from their respective positions, must step forward to help build a livable Bangladesh for future generations.
The Prime Minister made these remarks on Thursday (October 15, 2026) during a meeting held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to review the progress and implementation of the ministry’s activities.
The Prime Minister stated that to maintain a healthy environment, individuals must contribute more than what is strictly required by their official roles. He noted that achieving the desired change necessitates that everyone takes the initiative and leverages their own capabilities.
During the meeting, a decision was reached to identify and conserve the country’s “mother trees” (foundational, mature trees) within the next six months. Furthermore, the Prime Minister directed that regular care for saplings after planting must be ensured, and that personnel should be dispatched to monitor whether the planted saplings have survived.
Additionally, the meeting highlighted the importance of exploring ways to expand afforestation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region.
The Prime Minister remarked that there are currently too few spaces where people can connect with nature, and that the number of such areas must be increased. He also emphasized the need to encourage the public to promote “greening” efforts—such as creating rooftop gardens, school gardens, and gardens within various buildings.
He underscored that for environmental conservation to be effective and sustainable, the active participation of the general public is essential, alongside government initiatives. Under his directives, particular emphasis has been placed on the care of saplings, the preservation of mother trees, and the creation of new green spaces.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Abdul Awal Mintoo; State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam; the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant, Saimum Parvez; Acting Secretary Fahmida Khanam; and other senior officials from the ministry.
