DHAKA, June 4, 2024 (BSS) - The World Environment Day-2024 will be observed in the country as elsewhere in the world tomorrow with a view to creating awareness about environmental pollution. 
 
This year's theme of the day is ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience’. 
 
Different government and non-government organisations (NGOs) as well as educational institutions have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day.
  
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages today on the occasion, wishing success of all programmes of the day. 
 
Besides, the 'National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2024' and 'Environment Fair' will begin in the capital tomorrow (June 5), marking the World Environment Day. 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 'National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair' and the 'Environment Fair' at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here at about 10 am tomorrow. 
 
In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said there is no alternative to clean environment free of pollution for the existence of human race and fauna, the head of the state added. 
 
“But we are constantly polluting the environment in various man-made ways,” he said. 
 
The land resources of the country are very limited compared to the population, he said, adding that proper land management is crucial for food security, housing and infrastructure development. 
 
The President said that land degradation is occurring due to the adverse effects of climate change. 
 
Restoring degraded land, combating desertification and increasing drought tolerance are essential to the existence of mankind, he said. 
 
Sustainable use and management of land must be ensured for food and social security of the people, he said, adding that everyone must work together to restore and preserve the land environment to ensure a livable environment for future generations. 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said that various environmentally friendly development plans have been adopted to build a beautiful future for the new generation of the country. 
 
She said that the current government's aim is to ensure balanced development through balanced use of natural resources.
  
The premier said that land degradation has intensified throughout the world due to excessive and inefficient use of land resources.
  
Considering the importance of the issue, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has outlined the achievement of ‘Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)’ by 2030 to ensure sustainable land management globally, she said. 
 
She said if the desired ‘LDN’ cannot be achieved by 2030, 135 million people worldwide could be displaced or made refugee by drought by 2045. 
 
Sheikh Hasina said that the government is working together with various regional and international organizations including the United Nations to prevent global land degradation, desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. 
 
She said the environmental protection is one of ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Ten Special Initiatives’. 
 
The Prime Minister hoped that public awareness and their active involvement will increase to ensure environmental conservation and sustainable management of the environment through the observance of World Environment Day. 
 
Both the President and the Premier wished all the success of the day. 
 
To mark the day, the Environment Fair will be held at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar from June 5 to 11, while the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2024 from June 5 to July 13. 
 
The fairs will remain open from 9 am to 8 pm every day. 
 
At the inaugural ceremony, Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2023 and 2024, the National Environment Award 2023 and Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation-2022 and 2023 will be conferred upon the award winners, while cheques will be distributed among the beneficiaries of social afforestation programme. 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the national tree plantation campaign by planting two saplings of palash and wood-apple. 
 
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and other media including private television channels will air special programme, while newspapers will publish special supplements on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
  
All educational institutions at district and upazila levels and 100 educational institutions in Dhaka city will observe the environment day. 
 
Painting competition for children, debate, essay and slogan competitions will be organised at different institutions marking the day. 
 
Tree fair will be arranged at national, divisional, zila and upazila levels. Saplings will be distributed at different educational institutions. Key points of Dhaka city will be decorated with banner on the occasion.