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President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed today said the
social afforestation campaign has to be intensified to protect life and
property, alleviate poverty, achieve economic prosperity and develop
environment.
"Trees, the close friend of human being and environment, provide us with
food, clothing, home and oxygen. There is no scope of ignoring the
contribution of trees at any stage of our lives," he added.
The President said this at a function on the premises of Bangabhaban while
inaugurating the National Tree Plantation Programme-2008.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser in charge of the Ministry of
Forest and Environment Raja Debashish Roy also spoke on the occasion. |
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Chief Arboreculturist of Public Works Department Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan also
spoke.
Secretary of the
President's Office, concerned secretaries of
different ministries, chief engineer of
Public Works Department, chief conservator
of forest and high civil and military
officials of Bangabhaban were also present.
President Iajuddin said natural forest of
the country has been dwindling due to rapid
growth of population and unplanned
urbanization which ultimately endangering
the world making it unlivable for our new
generation.
Besides, he said, the nature and course of
our rivers are being changed, the water
level started going down and the soil of the
country losing humidity and fertility
turning the greenery into a desert.
"The water flow from the upper riparian
areas is declining gradually as well as
salinity increasing to threaten the nature
and environment of the country including its
coastal belt," he added.
The President said participation of all in
the tree plantation programme actively could
present a livable beautiful world to our
future generation.
He also called upon all to take part in the
tree plantation programme from their
respective positions to make a prosperous
Bangladesh.
Professor Iajuddin also underscored the need
for preserving and developing medicinal
trees side by side timber and fruit-bearing
ones and called upon all concerned to be
more caring in this regard.
Raja Debashish Roy said tree plantation
programme has been turned into a social
movement.
Referring to the different steps undertaken
by the government to make the tree
plantation movement a success, he said the
movement created huge enthusiasm among the
people as they have been started getting
benefit of trees.
Later, the President inaugurated the tree
plantation programme by planting a saplings
of "Sarnachanpa' a medicinal
tree, on the Bangabhaban premises.
Officials said the Bangabhaban has around
4,500 trees of 200 species, some of them are
very rare ones. This year more 200 saplings
of different species would be planted on the
premises as part of National Three
Plantation Programme-2008. |
