Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said steps should be taken against those who destroyed road-side trees and killed people in the name of movement.
“Proper steps have to be taken against those who in the name of movement killed people and destroyed trees so no one ever resort to such activities,” she said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the inaugural programme of the 3-month Tree Plantation programmes of Bangladesh Krishak League at her official residence Ganabhaban.
President of Bangladesh Krishak League Motahar Hossain Molla presided over the function.
It was also addressed by Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury, former Food Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque MP, Former President of Krishak League Advocate Rahmat Ali MP and Krishak League General Secretary Advocate Khandokar Shamsul Haque Reza.
The recent anti-government movement before and after the Jan. 5 general election witnessed the cutting of huge number of roadside trees to create roadblocks.
The government estimates that more than 20,000 trees were cut down during violence led by BNP, Jamaat and Hefajat-eIslam across the country.
Describing her government’s steps in making tree plantation program a social movement, Sheikh Hasina said initiatives have been taken to use every inch land of the country to make the people self-reliant.
The Prime Minister mentioned that her government is creating a green lattice across the coastal areas from Coxsbazar to Teknaf which would protect the region from the adverse impacts of climate change.
Sheikh Hasina urged every citizen to plant at least three saplings — one of fruit, one of herbal and other of timber, to contribute to the government’s efforts in building a bright future for next generation.
She appealed to the people to nurture the trees that will bring good luck for all.
In this connection she said that the fruit trees will give fruit while the timber trees will bring money and the herbal trees will keep the people healthy.
She said that nowadays the herbal medicine is becoming popular across the globe and the country could earn foreign exchange by exporting this item to many countries of the world.
The Prime Minister called upon all to further advance the National Tree Plantation Campaign through social afforestation.
She said, following the path of the Father of Nation, her government has put emphasis on enhancing production of foods, crops, fishes along with establishing agro-based small and medium industries in the country to ensure economic emancipation.
She said her government has provided bank loans to the farmers only at 4 percent interest for producing spices including onion, ginger and turmeric.
The Prime Minister said vegetables have national and international markets, particularly to over 80 lakh Bangladeshis living abroad.
Sheikh Hasina said that various measures of her government have made the country self-reliant in food production.
She requested the conscious section of the society to play their due role in inspiring rural people so that they get involved in productive programs like tree plantation.
She called for massive tree plantation in the islands.
She said that the tree plantation help these islands stabilize quickly.
Source: UNBConnect
