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Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has emphasised the need for continuation of planting trees and said the National Tree Fair 2026 may have officially ended, but the responsibility of planting and caring for trees and building a greener Bangladesh has only just begun.
“Every sapling purchased from the fair must be planted properly and cared for regularly. If families, educational institutions, youth and young people’s organisations, and people from all sections of society work together, the target of increasing the country’s tree cover to 27 per cent by 2035 can be achieved even ahead of schedule,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the National Tree Fair 2026 at the Haimanti Auditorium of the Forest Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday.
Mintoo said this year’s National Tree Fair was not merely an event for buying and selling saplings. Rather, it had become a national movement involving people in protecting environmental balance, expanding greenery and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
“The fair has achieved greater success than expected,” he said, referring to this year’s theme, “Let’s decorate the country with trees, Bangladesh first.”
The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the national tree-planting campaign and National Tree Fair 2026 on 9 July.
He said the government’s initiatives to protect the country’s environment and forests were no longer confined to declarations but had already entered the implementation stage.
According to the minister, the government has undertaken a programme to plant 250 million saplings across the country over the next five years and create new green jobs in line with its electoral pledges.
Under the programme, the planting of 50 million saplings is under way in the first year, including 35 million by the Forest Department.
He said the programme aims to create more than 350,000 direct and indirect green jobs, with priority given to young people, women and rural communities.
The government also plans to create 10,000 new nursery entrepreneurs across the country, generating employment opportunities for around 250,000 people, he added.
Mintoo said 74 nurseries participated in this year’s National Tree Fair. During the month-long fair, visitors from different parts of the country purchased around 1.6 million saplings worth approximately Tk 160 million.
He said the large number of saplings sold and the volume of transactions demonstrated growing environmental awareness among the people and highlighted the expanding potential of the nursery sector and the tree-based economy.
“The participation of small entrepreneurs, young people and the general public is creating a strong foundation for building a green economy in the country,” he said.
Urging people to plant and care for the saplings they purchased at the fair, Mintu stressed that merely planting trees was not enough.
“The survival of the trees must be ensured. Every planted sapling needs protection and regular care,” he said.
Bangladesh Climate Trust Managing Director Kazi Rawnakul Islam Tipu attended the programme as a special guest. Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury chaired the event.
In his speech, the Chief Conservator of Forests said the number of awards would be increased in future to encourage greater public participation in tree planting. He also called on the younger generation to become more closely involved in tree-planting activities.
At the ceremony, awards and certificates were presented to individuals and organisations that secured second and third places in the National Tree Plantation Awards 2025, as well as to individuals recognised for outstanding contributions to wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
Winners of essay writing, drawing and tree-identification competitions organised as part of the national tree-planting campaign and tree fair were also awarded. Selected stall owners at the National Tree Fair 2026 received awards and certificates as well.
Officials and employees of the Forest Department and relevant agencies, nursery and stall owners, stakeholders from the environment and forestry sectors, civil society representatives, and journalists from print and electronic media attended the event.
