Plant trees to protect environment: Tariqul

Inaugurating the programme, Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam said there is no alternative to tree plantation to protect the environment from pollution.

"Nowadays, tree plantation has become a social movement with the participation of all, including farmers, teachers, students, and intellectuals," he said, adding that saplings worth Tk 5 crore were sold in the month-long tree fair in Dhaka.

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Golam Mainuddin, deputy managing director of BATB, said the multinational company had initiated the programme in 1980 as part of its corporate social responsibility programmes.

A total of 50 lakh saplings will be distributed this year as against 42 lakh last year, he said.

Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, state minister for environment and forest, said the ban on polythene bags in the country has led to the improvement of the environment.

He called for using jute bags, plastic containers and earthen pots, instead of polybags, to preserve saplings at the nursery.

Later, both the minister and the state minister distributed saplings to some of the guests.

BATB will distribute two lakh saplings in Dhaka from the nursery at Krishibid Institution, Krishi Khamar Road, Farmgate.

Emil Moskofian, managing director of BATB, Ibrahim Khalil, director general of Department of Agriculture Extension, and Khandaker Rashedul Haque, director general of Department of Environment, and other BATB officials attended the function.