Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said that multiple projects are being taken to develop the Hakaluki Haor and its surrounding area.
Prime Minister has given direction to improve the area. Cable car facilities will be installed in Madhabkunda Eco Park and a new safari park will be built in Juri Upazila. After the projects are finished, many tourists from abroad will come to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area, added the Minister.
Minister Md Shahab Uddin made the assertion as the chief guest at a cheque distribution ceremony in Barlekha Upazila of Moulvibazar on Thursday.
Minister in the programme said that the barren hills in the area will be full of trees again after the proposed tree plantation projects. Government has taken a plan to planting 80 million trees in this region. Urging people to take part in tree plantation, he said that if each people plants three trees per year, 500 million of trees can be planted each year in the country. He advised people to take care of tree saplings while speaking about the importance of tree plantation.
The minister said the more trees are planted, the colder the air will be, the more habitable the environment will be. The Sundarbans protects us from many major natural disasters, he said. If we can plant trees like the Sundarbans all over the country, we can all be safe. The Minister also requested everyone to plant more trees following the slogan of this year's tree planting campaign "Promise in Mujib Barsho, make Shonar Bangla green".
It may be mentioned that out of 129 beneficiaries of social forestry, a dividend of Tk 43 lakh 27 thousand 872 was distributed as 55% dividend and a total of Tk 47 lakh 24 thousand 932 was distributed among the municipalities and union parishads as 5% dividend.
Earlier, a cheque for Tk 6 lakh 72 thousand from the minister's optional fund, a cheque for a grant of Tk 1 lakh 80 thousand at the mosque-temple as well as sewing machines and fish fry were also distributed from the Upazila Parishad's development fund at the same place.
Baralekha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khandaker Mudachir Bin Ali presided over the function, which was attended by Baralekha Upazila Parishad Chairman Sohaib Ahmed, Vice Chairman Taj Uddin, Divisional Forest Officer SM Sajjad Hossain, Police Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Hossain Sardar, Freedom Fighter Commander Mohammad Siraj Uddin and Upazila Awami League Vice President Dr. Pranoy Kumar Dey and others were present there.
