PM Urges Children to Plant One Tree Every Year

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday urged schoolchildren to plant at least one tree every year and nurture it, saying the younger generation must play a leading role in building a greener, healthier and more sustainable Bangladesh.

He made the call while inaugurating a nationwide tree plantation programme at government primary schools by planting a sapling at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon.

The programme was launched under the government's "One Child, One Tree" initiative.

Addressing students and teachers connected virtually from schools across the country, the Prime Minister encouraged children not only to plant trees but also to learn about their environmental importance.

He urged students to find out the species of the tree they planted, how long it would live, how much oxygen it could produce and how it benefits people and the environment by using the internet and other learning resources.

"You will learn something new about a tree every year. As the trees grow, you will enjoy their shade after playing with your friends at school or the cool breeze around your home," he said.

Calling for a nationwide greening movement, Tarique Rahman urged people from all walks of life to work together to leave a healthier environment for future generations.

Under the programme, tree plantation activities were carried out simultaneously at 64,587 government primary schools across the country.

A total of 193,761 saplings were planted, with three trees at each participating school. Officials said 915 schools could not take part because of natural disasters.

Under the "One Child, One Tree" initiative, government primary schools aim to plant nearly one crore trees over the next five years.

Following the inauguration, the programme showcased a range of primary education initiatives and innovations from all 64 districts, including school feeding, joyful learning, digital education, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), and other education programmes.

The Prime Minister visited the exhibition stalls, interacted with students and praised their creativity, innovation and enthusiasm.