Make a green Bangladesh: PM Hasina

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina on Saturday called upon the countrymen to make a "Green Bangladesh" by planting trees in large numbers.

"We have to plant trees as much as we can across the country to make a "Green Bangladesh," she said while inaugurating the three-month-long tree plantation programme of Bangladesh Krishak League (BKL) at a function at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka, reports BSS.

At the function, the Prime Minister also awarded several BKL leaders for their contribution in pursuing the nationwide tree plantation campaign of Awami League and distributed saplings among them.

The Prime Minister asked the leaders and activists to play a vital role in turning the country into "Green Bangladesh".

She called upon the BKL leaders to plant saplings on the embankments of rivers, coastal belts, roadside, on rooftops and houses to take the 'Green movement' forward.

The Prime Minister planted three saplings of trees at the Ganabhaban marking the programme.

"I have planted over 2000 trees in Ganabhaban since I assumed power," she mentioned.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country and its economy depends on agriculture.

"We will go for industrialisation after developing the agriculture sector but not bypassing it," she said.

But, she alerted all not to destroy arable lands while developing industries in a scattered way.

"By no means, the croplands should not be destroyed in the name of industrialization," she said.

Huge developments and urbanisation are being carried out across the country, she said.

BKL President Samir Chanda and Acting General Secretary Bishwanath Sarker Bitu, spoke on the occasion.

Joint General Secretary of the BKL Shamima Shahriar moderated the function.