BNP pledges five key steps to safeguard envir: Tarique

“In light of today’s escalating climate crisis and worsening industrial pollution, a pragmatic and forward-looking national strategy is more needed than ever. Should the BNP be entrusted once again with the responsibility of governing, we pledge to undertake the following actions to safeguard Bangladesh’s environment,” he said in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday on the eve of the World Environment Day 2025.

The five steps include (1) to develop a National Green Recovery Plan with a strong focus on reforestation (planting 250 to 300 million trees within the next five years), renewable green energy, and sustainable agriculture; (2) to ban harmful plastics and toxic chemicals, while promoting biodegradable alternatives across industries and households; and (3) Launch a comprehensive dredging and restoration programme for rivers and canals to combat waterlogging and protect aquatic ecosystems.

The two remaining actions are (4) to support climate resilient agriculture and infrastructure in the country’s vulnerable southern regions, helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change; and (5) to integrate environmental education into school curricula to build a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh, by virtue of its geography, is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty and ecological diversity. “It is therefore our solemn duty to preserve this rich environment for future generations.”

He said from its very inception, his party has been recognised as an environmentally conscious party. “Over the years, we have championed initiatives including widespread tree plantation drives, canal excavation and maintenance projects, and active campaigns to restrict the use of harmful plastics.”

He said BNP founder, President Ziaur Rahman, launched the Environment Pollution Control Project in 1977, an initiative that later evolved into what is now the Department of Environment. Continuing this legacy, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia introduced the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act in 1995 and established the country’s first Environmental Courts, pioneering legal mechanisms for ecological protection.

Noting that environmental conservation is not a luxury rather it is a necessity, The BNP acting chairman called upon all to come together across political and social boundaries, to build a sustainable Bangladesh, one where future generations inherit a land that is green, livable, and resilient, reports UNB. 

“Let us plant the seeds of hope, protect our air, water and soil, and safeguard the future for all,”  Tarique Rahman added.