Staff Correspondent

In a powerful reaffirmation of Bangladesh’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the capital is set to host this year’s Environment Fair and Tree Fair from June 25, drawing attention to urgent ecological concerns and sustainable solutions.

The month-long event, to be held beside the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, will open its gates daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm, inviting citizens from all walks of life to participate.

At a press conference held at the Secretariat, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the Environment Fair will take place from June25 to 27, while the Tree Fair will continue until July 24.

The inaugural ceremony on June 25 will be graced by Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, who will attend as chief guest.

The event will also see the presentation of the National Environment Medal 2024, the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025, and the National Tree Plantation Award 2024. Besides, profit-sharing cheques will be distributed to beneficiaries of the social forestry programme.

“Our mission to combat pollution, mitigate climate impacts and develop forest resources is unwavering. “This year’s programmes aim to engage the public more deeply and build a sense of environmental responsibility across the nation,” said Rizwana Hasan.

This year’s World Environment Day is themed ‘Say No to Plastic Pollution, Time to Act is Now’ while the National Tree Plantation Campaign carries the slogan ‘Let Us Plan for Greening, Build a Green Bangladesh’.

A series of awareness campaigns are planned, including drawing, debate, and slogan competitions in 100 educational institutions across Dhaka, alongside seminars and outreach programmes in districts and upazilas.

Tree fairs and sapling distributions will also take place throughout the country.

Rizwana Hasan warned of the health hazards posed by plastic waste, noting its infiltration into the food chain and links to cancer and other serious illnesses.

As part of its response, the government has banned plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds from June 1, 2025, and imposed restrictions on 17 types of single-use plastics.

A final draft of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy has been completed, and special coastal protection plans are being implemented in 40 upazilas, including eight in Chattogram, declared ‘Exposed Coasts’.

Between November 2024 and June 2025, 434 mobile courts acted against 815 organisations, collecting Tk 63 lakh in fines and seizing 2.33 lakh kilograms of banned polythene.

In an effort to restore forestland, 1,717 acres were reclaimed since August 2024, reversing illegal allocations, including a major move to recover 4,104 acres from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) in Mirsarai, Chattogram.

Rizwana highlighted a long-term greening effort spanning decades: from FY 1995–96 to FY 2023–24, over 426,000 hectares of block plantations and 72,581 kilometres of strip plantations have been established, with more than 2.06 billion saplings planted and distributed.

The government has disbursed Tk 505 crore to 250,000 beneficiaries under the social forestry programme.

In the arena of wildlife conservation, targeted programmes are ongoing to protect elephants, vultures, freshwater stingrays, migratory birds, sharks, dolphins, and gharials.

The Wildlife Conservation Act has been updated, the controversial safari park project in Lawachara scrapped, and a biodiversity zone declared in Purbachal.

Environmental regulation efforts have also intensified: 1,063 mobile courts have been deployed to curb air, noise and river pollution, resulting in 2,499 legal actions, Tk 25.35 crore in fines, and the shutdown of 481 illegal brick kilns.

A new action plan is being implemented to protect Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA).

“While the government is determined to lead the way in environmental protection, meaningful change requires the active involvement of both the media and the public,” said Rizwana Hasan, adding, “We call upon journalists and citizens alike to help carry these initiatives to every corner of the country.”

Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry; Dr Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary (Environment); Md Khairul Islam, Additional Secretary (Development); Dr Md Kamruzzaman, Director General of the Department of Environment; and Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, among others, attended the press conference .