PM urges everyone to plant at least one tree a year

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday urged people to make tree planting an annual habit, calling on every citizen to plant at least one tree during the monsoon season to help protect the environment and ensure a greener future.

“Celebrating a single day does not mean our responsibility ends. We must develop the habit of planting at least one tree every monsoon season. If you plant one tree every year, the tree will grow just as you grow. One day, you will come to regard that tree as your friend,” he said.

The prime minister made the remarks while inaugurating a nationwide tree plantation campaign at secondary educational institutions from the Bangladesh-China Friendship International Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

Encouraging families to become actively involved in afforestation, Tarique Rahman proposed planting a tree whenever a child is born.

“When a new brother or sister is born in a family, a tree can be planted in that child’s name. As the child grows, the tree will grow at the same time,” he said, describing it as a meaningful way to strengthen people’s connection with nature from an early age.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s past contribution to environmental initiatives, the prime minister recalled that, under the initiative of the late President Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh had sent neem saplings to Saudi Arabia.

He said the saplings were planted extensively on the Plain of Arafat and have since grown into large trees that now provide shade to millions of pilgrims during the Hajj season.

The prime minister stressed that environmental protection requires sustained public participation rather than symbolic observances, urging students and citizens alike to take responsibility for increasing the country’s tree cover and preserving biodiversity.

Prime Minister’s spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman attended the programme along with Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Education Adviser Mahdi Amin, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.