DHAKA, June 4, 2024 (BSS) – Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said the government will plant about 8.33 crore saplings across the country during the upcoming monsoon this year. 

“The government has continued afforestation programme and projects for forest conservation, restoration of degraded forests and sustainable forest management,” he told a press conference at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on the occasion of the World Environment Day. 

Saber Hossain said a total of 2,17,402 hectares blocks and 30,252 seedling km strip gardens were created from 2009-2010 to 2022-23, while around 11.21 crore saplings were distributed and planted.  

Highlighting the various initiatives taken by the government to protect the environment and prevent land degradation, he said the government is implementing various projects, including sustainable land management project, to reduce land degradation and conserve biodiversity. 

The environment minister said about 13 crore metric tonnes of top soil from arable land is being used in brick manufacturing in the country every year. 

To reduce the use of top soil in brick kilns, he said, guidelines have been formulated for use of blocks instead of bricks in government construction works.  

Saber Hossain said coordinated activities have been undertaken to recover encroached forest land. 

“As a result, from October, 2020 to April, 2024, about 30,000 acres of occupied forest lands were recovered across the country and afforestation has been completed on those forest lands,” he said. 

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Development) of the ministry Md Mosharraf Hossain, Additional Secretary Tapan Kumar Biswas, Director General of Department of Environment (DoE) Dr Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury were, among others, at the press conference.