Bangladesh is set to begin an ambitious nationwide tree planting programme as the government prepares to introduce a technology-driven forestry system aimed at improving environmental protection and strengthening climate resilience.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will officially open the World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2026 alongside the National Tree Plantation Campaign and National Tree Fair 2026 on Thursday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat, Mintoo said, "This year’s campaign will be held under the theme 'Let Us Beautify the Country Through Tree Plantation, Bangladesh First’.”
The inauguration will also mark the opening of the month-long National Tree Fair in Dhaka.
The minister said the campaign will extend well beyond Dhaka. Tree fairs are scheduled to run for 15 days in all seven divisional headquarters, seven days in 56 district headquarters and three days in 29 upazilas, bringing tree planting activities to communities across the country.
A total of 120 stalls will participate in the National Tree Fair, which begins on 9 July.
Mintoo said the government is introducing a Smart Forestry programme to modernise forest management and respond more effectively to the growing impact of climate change.
The initiative will combine digital technology with traditional conservation practices to improve the protection and management of forests.
As part of the programme, the government has adopted a five-year master plan to plant 250 million trees across Bangladesh.
A dedicated national-level cell has also been established under the Prime Minister’s Office to oversee implementation in line with the government’s election commitments.
The new system will use satellite monitoring, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and remote sensing technology to record the location and growth of newly planted trees.
Authorities also plan to create a National Tree Database and a central monitoring system to track the survival of saplings after planting.
Drone technology will be introduced to monitor plantations in difficult-to-reach areas, including coastal regions, river islands and forest zones, allowing officials to assess progress more efficiently.
According to the minister, the large-scale afforestation programme is expected to create more than 350,000 green jobs over the next five years. He said the initiative would also generate employment opportunities for rural women and young people through nursery development and plantation maintenance.
The state minister for environment Sheikh Faridul Islam, the ministry’s secretary and senior officials from various departments also attended the press conference.
