Prime minister Tarique Rahman has urged every citizen of the country to plant at least one tree sapling to build a clean and pollution-free environment for the next generation.
‘Thinking about your children’s future and keeping in mind that they should be able to breathe freely in a beautiful environment, please plant at least one tree sapling wherever possible from today,’ he said.
The premier made the call after inaugurating a nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees by planting a garjan sapling at the Malumghat Reserved Forest under Dulahazara in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.
‘Let us give our future generations a guarantee that we will build a clean and pollution-free environment where they can live in healthy surroundings,’ he said.
Referring to his election pledge, Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, said that before the election, BNP made promise to launch a nationwide tree-planting programme.
‘Our goal would be to plant at least 5 crore trees every year. Over the next five years, we will plant 25 crore tree saplings. If we all work together, we will be able to transform Bangladesh’s air into something much cleaner, purer and healthier in the days ahead,’ he said.
He asked the deputy commissioners to take every possible initiative to turn their respective districts into beautiful green sanctuaries.
He also addressed a brief rally after inaugurating the re-excavation work of the Patli Canal at Pmkhali union in the district.
Reiterating that the country’s people are the source of all power for BNP, the prime minister said that BNP would continue working for the country and its people as long as its leaders remain alive. ‘People are the source of all power for the BNP. The support of the people is our strength. Therefore, as long as we live, we will continue working for this country and its people.’
Stating that BNP always pursue the people’s welfare-oriented politics, he said, ‘I have seen in the newspapers that no prices of essential commodities have increased so far after the announcement of budget this year.’
‘Because, the government removed taxes on 60 products in the budget announced two days ago. The products include rice, lentils, edible oil, salt and other daily necessities, so that prices do not rise. The objective is simple: to ensure that people can live well,’ he continued.
Alleging that the opposition party is opposing the proposed budget in an attempt to create instability in the country, the BNP chairman said, ‘The opposition says they do not accept this budget and call it anti-people.’
‘I want to leave a question to you. The opposition party cannot accept the budget that reduces taxes...They also do not like the budget that increases the prices of alcohol and cigarettes. Can you now understand the opposition party’s intention?’
‘Their target is not to stand beside the people. Their objective is to create instability and unrest in the country and to mislead the public,’ he added.
Referring to the re-excavation of Patli Canal, the prime minister said that this canal was excavated 50 years ago by the late president Ziaur Rahman. ‘The re-excavation of this canal now will benefit 40,000 people. About 8,500 farmers will also be benefited. For this reason, we will excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country in the next 5 years.’
Noting that Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country, he said, ‘But alongside agriculture, we must develop industry and commerce. If industries and businesses grow, employment opportunities will be created for our children. They will be able to find jobs and engage in business.’
‘Therefore, we have increased taxes on imported goods that compete with products already manufactured in Bangladesh. This is to support local producers and industries. Yet this, too, is not acceptable to the opposition party,’ Tarique Rahman said.
‘I want to say that you are the owners of this country. The ownership of the country does not belong to any political party. The ownership of the country does not belong to any family. The true owners of the country are the 20 crore people of Bangladesh,’ he said.
Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed, water resources minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, state minister for water resources Forhad Hossain Azad, Cox’s Bazar-3 lawmaker Lutfur Rahman Kajal and local BNP leader Harunur Rashid spoke on the occasion with Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila BNP president Abdul Mabud in the chair.
The prime minister also visited Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar after attending re-excavation programme of the Patli Canal and planted a Nagalingam tree sapling in front of the main gate of the park. Later, the PM and his spouse signed the Safari Park’s commemorative guest book.
The prime minister also offered special prayers at the grave of Mohammad Wasim Akram, who embraced martyrdom during the anti-discrimination student movement in July, 2024, in the Mehernama Bazarpara area of Pekua upazila.
Afterward, the PM met members of Wasim Akram’s family and inquired about their well-being. He handed over a savings certificate worth Tk 20 lakh to Wasim’s mother Jotsna Begum.
