Desk Report:
Md. Ismail Zabiullah, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Public Administration (holding the rank of Minister) and a member of the BNP’s National Standing Committee, stated that the target of planting 250 million trees over the next five years is not an overly ambitious goal; it is achievable through collective effort and public participation. He emphasized that tree planting should not be limited to mere ceremonial events; rather, it must evolve into a social movement focused on the care and preservation of the trees.
The Advisor made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at an inauguration ceremony in Chittagong on Tuesday (October 27, 2026). The event, held at the Jamiatul Falah Mosque Eidgah grounds, was organized by the Chittagong District Administration as part of the government’s priority initiative to plant 250 million trees over five years—with 100,000 trees planted in a single day.
The Advisor noted that tree planting was a component of the 19-point program introduced by the late President Ziaur Rahman, and was later transformed into a social movement during the tenure of Begum Khaleda Zia. He stressed that this is not merely a rhetorical initiative; the social framework and infrastructure for tree planting already exist within the country. By strengthening and enhancing these existing systems, tree planting can be developed into a broad-based social movement.
The Advisor highlighted that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is committed to fulfilling its promises—these are not just plans confined to paper. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, extensive planning, research, and groundwork regarding the future of Bangladesh—and the specific steps required—have been underway since the days of the democratic movement. These efforts are reflected in the party’s election manifesto. The manifesto was formulated with clear, multi-term goals and plans outlining what would be done for the people should the party form the government following the restoration of democracy. Since assuming office, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has begun implementing the commitments made in the election manifesto from his very first day. Notably, during the first cabinet meeting, a decision was made to waive agricultural loans of up to 10,000 Taka—a measure that has already been implemented. He stated that the government has launched several initiatives, including ‘Family Cards’ for households and ‘Farmers’ Cards’ for the agricultural community, alongside programs for canal excavation and tree plantation. Furthermore, efforts have been initiated to improve the quality of primary education, promote overseas employment, and implement schemes such as ‘One Teacher, One Tab’ and ‘One Student, One Plant.’ The Advisor added that a commitment has been made to plant and maintain 250 million trees across the country over a five-year period. As of last July, 26,394,428 trees had already been planted toward this target. The actual total could be even higher if the independent efforts of various individuals and organizations were properly accounted for.
Highlighting the environmental characteristics of Chattogram, the Advisor noted that the region—comprising hills, plains, and a coastline—possesses a unique landscape. However, it also faces various environmental risks, including landslides. Emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address these challenges, he urged the district and divisional administrations to take appropriate action. Citing the principle that “prevention is better than cure,” he stressed that instead of reacting after a landslide, disaster, or accident has occurred, risks must be identified in advance so that preventive steps can be taken.
Advisor Ismail Zabiullah remarked that climate change is not merely a problem for Bangladesh, but a global crisis. Bangladesh, however, is among the nations most severely affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Regrettably, the country has not received the level of support it expected from global climate funds. In this context, he called upon world leaders to prioritize the actual circumstances and needs of affected nations when allocating climate funds.
The event was chaired by the Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram, Dr. Md. Ziauddin. The welcome address was delivered by the Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, and the Administrator of the Chattogram City Corporation was present as a special guest. Also present were Shahadat Hossain; Ershad Ullah, Member of Parliament for the Chattogram-8 constituency; Sayeed Al Noman, Member of Parliament for the Chattogram-10 constituency; Colonel Khalil Ullah (SPP) from the Army’s Chattogram Area Headquarters; Chattogram Range DIG Abdul Quddus Chowdhury (PPM); CMP Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali; CDA Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain; District Council Administrator Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman; and Superintendent of Police Md. Masud Alam (BPM). Additionally, officials from various departments, teachers and students from educational institutions, and journalists from print and electronic media were in attendance.
