Staff Correspondent, Ctg
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the tree-enriched areas of the country was 19 percent before 11-12 years but now it stands more than 24 percent, and at the same time, the population of the country has increased at same percentages.
He said this while addressing the reunion function of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science Alumni Association of Chattogram University (CU) yesterday noon.
He further said the infrastructures of the cities and district towns have gradually expanded and it is the duty of the government to preserve the forest areas and natural beauties to help facilitate the environment.
Dr Hasan also said Bangladesh is a very small country and most densely populated where more than 1100 people reside in one square meter areas.
He mentioned that the per capita agriculture land in Bangladesh is minimum level and despite the minimum agriculture lands, Bangladesh became self-sufficient in food productions which is rare example across the world and as well as it is also a case study of World Food Organization.
The Information Minister said government organizations should be more careful to save the environment and some government agencies would not look after the environment cause properly.
He also attended the reminiscence and said I was the student of CU and whenever I get calls from the university, I never miss the call of the CU.
He said I had intention to visit whole campus of the university but time did not allow me and I had to leave the function immediately. Dr Hasan in his reminiscence urges the CU authority to plant trees in the campus and mentioned about the birth of his two sons in Belgium. He sets example of tree plantations in Belgium.
He said a new sapling is to plant in the name of new-born baby and hanged a nameplate before the name of baby and such type of tree plant would not be cut any more until the baby grown up and may trace the tree named after his name.
Vice chancellor of CU Professor Shirin Sharmin presided over the function while Netherland Ambassador in Bangladesh Sheikh Md. Belal inaugurated the function. GOC of Chattogram Brigade Major general SM Motiur Rahman, Prof. Giasuddin of CU, General Secretary of Forestry Alumni Association Professor Dr. Jasimuddin among others addressed the occasion.
