Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday called on schoolchildren to plant at least one tree every year and nurture it, saying the younger generation must take the lead in building a greener and healthier Bangladesh.

Speaking after inaugurating a nationwide tree plantation programme at government primary schools by planting a sapling at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon, the Prime Minister urged students to plant trees wherever possible at schools or near their homes and care for them as they grow.

The programme was launched under the ‘Green School’ initiative, with students and teachers from schools across the country joining virtually.

Encouraging children to learn more about the environment, Tarique Rahman asked them to use the internet and other learning resources to find out about the species they plant, how long the trees live, the amount of oxygen they produce and their benefits for people.

He said such learning would help students develop a stronger bond with nature while allowing them to enjoy the shade and cool environment created by the trees in the future.

Calling for a nationwide greening movement, the Prime Minister said everyone should work together to make Bangladesh greener for future generations.

Under the campaign, trees were planted simultaneously at 64,587 government primary schools across the country, with 193,761 saplings planted three at each participating school. Officials said 915 schools could not join the programme due to natural disasters.

The government aims to plant nearly one crore trees at government primary schools over the next five years through the ‘Green School’ initiative.

The inauguration ceremony also featured exhibitions showcasing primary education initiatives from all 64 districts, including school feeding, joyful learning, digital education, Foundational Learning (FLN) and other education programmes.