News Flash
SANGSAD BHABAN, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today said in Parliament that some 1.5 crore tree saplings will be planted throughout the country during this monsoon to cope with the environment and climate change.
Mintoo said this initiative has been taken as part of implementation of the government’s electoral manifesto in coping with the environment, forest and climate change.
“Some 1.5 crore different varieties of saplings have already been lifted for plantation across the country during the current monsoon. The planting of these saplings will be completed in early monsoon,” said the environment minister.
He revealed it, while replying to a starred question from opposition bench lawmaker (Jamaat) Md Abdus Sattar (Nilphamari-1) during the question-and-answer session in the House today.
The preparations have already been made for tree plantation campaigns and tree fairs at the national level, and tree fairs at divisional and district levels as a supportive programme for the tree plantation, said Mintoo.
In the next 5 (five) years, a total of 25 crore trees will be planted across the country under different programmes including forest restoration in government forests, mangrove afforestation in coastal char areas, afforestation on roads, highways, embankments, river and canal banks and other marginal lands, afforestation in institutions and homes, agroforestry and urban afforestation activities. “Green employment will be created,” he said.
The environment minister said a 'Tree Monitoring App' will be developed for tree maintenance, observation and digital surveillance.
Some 50 percent of the mangrove plantations in the coastal areas will be brought under the scope of carbon trading activities, he said.
To conserve natural resources (800 hectares in the short term, 2000 hectares in the medium term, and 2000 hectares in the long term), a total of 4,800 hectares of encroached forest land will be reclaimed and afforestation activities will be completed, he added.
The minister said a 74-kilometer-long rope fence will be constructed along the Sundarbans border to protect the lives and property of local people and resolve conflicts between tigers and people living in villages adjacent to the Sundarbans.
To prevent deforestation and damage to mangrove forests, 30,000 kilometers in the short term, 60,000 kilometers in the medium term, and 300,000 kilometers in the long term will be smart patrolled using SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools) technology through Cyber Tracker in 4 ranges of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest Area, he said.
Mintoo also said degraded forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and hilly areas in Chittagong and Sylhet regions will be re-established.
