Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government aims to protect the country, its people and the nature from the natural calamities, urging all to plant saplings at empty place of houses and offices to protect the environment.

"Our target is to secure the country, its people and the nature from the natural calamities," she said.

The premier made the remarks while inaugurating the 'National Tree Plantation Campaign, Tree Fair 2024' and the 'Environment Fair 2024' at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here marking the World Environment Day.

She also conferred Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2023 and 2024, the National Environment Award-2023 and Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation-2022 and 2023 on the winners.

Cheques were also distributed among the beneficiaries of social afforestation programme.

The prime minister said, "We have to protect the nature as it gives us everything. If we want to live healthy life, we need a beautiful environment and everyone should focus on it".

To protect the nature and the environment, she called upon all to plant saplings at empty places wherever they have either it is in the houses or on the roofs and offices.

"I request you all to plant saplings wherever you have bare places. You can have fruit, if you plant fruit bearing trees, you can get enough money by selling wood, if you plant wood trees while medicines are also produced from the herbal trees," she added.

Everyone should plant trees on the premises of offices, schools, colleges, mosques and madrashas and even on the rooftops along with houses.

"You can get shade for the trees which give you comfort. There is also self-satisfaction of eating fruits and vegetables from the own gardens," she remarked.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, President of the ministry's Parliamentary Standing Committee Dipankar Talukder and Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme.

A video documentary on the overall activities of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry was screened on the occasion.

Biniyougbarta/SAM//