05/06/2025
I am pleased to see that Bangladesh is observing World Environment Day 2025 through a range of meaningful programs and activities. At a time when reckless industrialisation and unplanned development practices continue to threaten ecosystems across the globe, this day serves as a crucial platform to raise awareness about the urgent need for environmental conservation and sustainable living.
Bangladesh, by virtue of its geography, is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty and ecological diversity. It is therefore our solemn duty to preserve this rich environment for future generations. From its very inception, the BNP has been recognised as an environmentally conscious party. Over the years, we have championed initiatives including widespread tree plantation drives, canal excavation and maintenance projects, and active campaigns to restrict the use of harmful plastics.
Our founder, President Ziaur Rahman, launched the Environment Pollution Control Project in 1977, an initiative that later evolved into what is now the Department of Environment. Continuing this legacy, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia introduced the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act in 1995 and established the country’s first Environmental Courts, pioneering legal mechanisms for ecological protection.
Our goal has always been to build a greener, cleaner Bangladesh.
In light of today’s escalating climate crisis and worsening industrial pollution, a pragmatic and forward looking national strategy is more needed than ever. Should the BNP be entrusted once again with the responsibility of governing, we pledge to undertake the following actions to safeguard Bangladesh’s environment:
1. Develop a National Green Recovery Plan with a strong focus on reforestation (planting 250 to 300 million trees within the next five years), renewable green energy, and sustainable agriculture
2. Ban harmful plastics and toxic chemicals, while promoting biodegradable alternatives across industries and households
3. Launch a comprehensive dredging and restoration program for rivers and canals to combat waterlogging and protect aquatic ecosystems
4. Support climate resilient agriculture and infrastructure in the country’s vulnerable southern regions, helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change
5. Integrate environmental education into school curricula to build a generation of environmentally conscious citizens
Environmental conservation is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Let us come together, across political and social boundaries, to build a sustainable Bangladesh, one where future generations inherit a land that is green, livable, and resilient.
This World Environment Day, let us plant the seeds of hope, protect our air, water, and soil, and safeguard the future for all.
