Deputy Speaker and Netrokona-1 lawmaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal called for those involved in uprooting and cutting planted saplings to be identified and brought under the law. Speaking on Friday afternoon at a tree-planting programme near Babni Bridge in Kalmakanda Sadar Union, Netrokona, he urged local authorities to take necessary action.

Kamal said saplings planted along both sides of the Thakurakona-Kalmakanda road on August 1 had been damaged by unidentified people at night two days earlier. The planting, involving more than 1,200 forest, fruit and medicinal saplings, was organised by Kalmakanda উপজেলা BNP and its affiliated organisations as part of the prime minister’s announced national tree-planting programme.

He said tree planting is necessary to address adverse climate impacts, maintain environmental balance and ensure a safe, livable environment for future generations. He also stressed that planting alone is insufficient and that saplings must be cared for and protected. More than 100 forest, fruit and medicinal saplings were planted beside the Babni Bridge road during Friday’s programme, attended by local political leaders and administration officials.