Published: 10:25 AM, 04 July 2026
Tree Planting Program inaugurated at BARI
In alignment with the Honorable Prime Minister's election pledge to plant 250 million trees over five years, the "Tree Planting Program 2026" was officially inaugurated on Thursday, at the head office of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).
This year, BARI is spearheading the initiative under the slogan: "Fighting Climate Change: Let Adaptation Be the Greatest Success of Agricultural Scientists."
Rather than focusing on a single species, the program kicked off with the planting of a diverse mix of saplings, including spices, medicinal plants, and fruit-bearing trees chosen for their ecological benefits and aesthetic value. The program was formally inaugurated by the Director General of BARI, Agriculturist Dr. Md. Manjurul Kadir.
In his post-inauguration speech, Dr. Kadir praised the government's visionary, eco-friendly initiative, noting that the tree planting program simultaneously generates carbon credits and boosts crop production by establishing vital habitats for bees. By fostering these habitats, farmers can earn additional income from harvesting honey and beeswax.
Furthermore, a richer variety of flowering and fruit-bearing trees will expand and enrich the ideal ecosystem for bees, which are essential for pollination. Given that roughly one-third of the world's crops-particularly fruits, vegetables, spices, and oilseeds-rely on bees, expanding the tree canopy will naturally grow the bee population. This, in turn, can indirectly boost crop yields by 20% or more.
Reflecting on the Prime Minister's pledge, Dr Md Masudul Haque Jhontu, Principal Scientific Officer of the Regional Spices Research Center in Gazipur and organizer of the event, stated:
"We are currently facing a cluster of interconnected challenges, with global climate change at the forefront. Tackling these impacts and adapting to them is the primary goal of agricultural scientists today."
Dr. Jhontu emphasized that the government's sustainable tree planting program will capture atmospheric carbon to secure carbon credits while rebuilding natural habitats for bees and birds. This approach stands to generate substantial foreign exchange through global carbon trading, while improved pollination is projected to increase local yields for rice, mustard, sunflower, pulses, fruits, vegetables, and spice/onion seeds by 20% to 40%.
He noted, however, that the scale and pace of climate change are now so severe that conventional efforts alone are no longer enough. To curb its momentum, conventional agricultural science must be integrated with AI and data-driven technology alongside government initiatives.
The inaugural event was attended by several key directors of the institute, including Dr. Reshma Sultana (Training & Communication Wing), Dr. Faruk Ahmed (Research Wing), Dr. Kausar Uddin Ahmed (Horticulture Research Center), Dr. Nirmal Kumar Dutta (Tuber Crops Research Center), Dr. Habib Mohammad Naser (Planning & Evaluation Wing), and Dr. Md. Mosharraf Hossain Molla (Support & Services Wing).
Divisional and center heads, Chief Scientific Officers, Principal Scientific Officers, Senior Scientific Officers, and various institutional staff and workers were also present.
Under this program, BARI aims to produce, collect, distribute, plant, and maintain approximately 1.33 lakh (133,000) saplings of various fruit, spice, medicinal, and ornamental species in its first year. Over the next five years, a total of 7.5 lakh (750,000) saplings will be planted in phases across BARI's six main centers, regional stations, sub-centers, and adjoining areas nationwide.
>>Mahbubul Alam in Gazipur
