Sapling survival, care crucial to building greener Bangladesh.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said that responsibility does not end merely with the distribution and planting of saplings, the planted saplings must be nurtured to maturity.
"The real responsibility lies in ensuring the survival of saplings after planting, providing regular care, and nurturing them to maturity to expand forest cover and maintain environmental balance through afforestation," he said.
Dulu said this while speaking as the chief guest at a tree-sapling distribution ceremony held at "Shobha Bardhan Nursery" in the Airport Road area under Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat district on Sunday, a PID press release said here this afternoon.
The event, aimed at various educational institutions in the Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat, was part of the Prime Minister's programme to plant 250 million trees in five years across the country.
Urging that students be made aware of the benefits and care of trees, the minister stated that simply handing over a sapling is not enough.
"Students must be informed about where and how to plant the saplings and how to care for them and teachers should play a crucial role in this regard," he said.
The minister noted that in the past, many large trees were cut down in the name of development activities, which had an adverse impact on the environment amidst changing climate.
"The government is implementing this tree-planting and sapling distribution programme with the resolve to partially offset that damage and build a green Bangladesh," he said.
Saplings were distributed to educational institutions in Lalmonirhat last year as well. A list of institutions has been prepared, he said, adding, "Based on that list, 20,000 saplings are being distributed today to 20
educational institutions in Sadar upazila."
Highlighting the importance of trees, the minister stated that trees supply oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, provide shade, and play a vital role in maintaining environmental balance.
Trees also serve as a support for people during natural disasters. Therefore, there is no alternative to trees in building a green Bangladesh.
He further added that external assistance might not always be available. Thus, alongside building one's own capabilities, one must think about creating assets for the future.
Urging students to cultivate trees as future assets, the minister noted that a single tree could even serve a family's financial needs in the future. Therefore, the habit of planting and caring for trees must be instilled in
students from an early age.
He urged teachers to ensure the proper care of the saplings distributed to educational institutions.
Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Md Rashedul Haque Prodhan, District Council Administrator AKM Mominul Haque, Executive Engineer of the Lalmonirhat Roads and Highways Department Debashish Roy and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mononita Das spoke at the event as special guests.
Earlier, the minister inaugurated the new building of the Land Office in Mahendranagar Union under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
Government officials, leaders of BNP and its affiliated front organisations, teachers, students, guardians, people from various walks of life and journalists were present at the event.
