Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all irrespective of political ideology and belief to work together lor protection of the environment.

"I believe political differences can't create any barrier on the issue ... Let each of us plant at least two saplings, one herbal and another fruit-bearing". the PM told a function in the city yesterday in observance of the World Environment Day and the 25th anniversary of United Nations Environment Programme.

Sheikh Hasina further said plantation of trees could play a very vital role in maintaining ecological balance and pollution-free environment and called upon all to plant trees and nurture them.

"We can build up a green Bangladesh with the concerted efforts of all", she noted at the function held at the Institution of Engineers.

The Ministry of Environment organised the programme that included an Environment Fair at the Institution premises in the morning. The PM also opened the fair and visited the stalls there.

Forest and Environment Minister Syeda Sajeda Choudhury. Secretary of the ministry Ahbab Ahmad. UN Coordinator in Dhaka David Lockwood and the DG of the Department of Environment Saiyad Moshar-raf Hossain also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking of her government's steps to address the environmental problems, the Prime Minister said it had issued instructions to plant green hedges instead of brick-built boundary walls around the educational institutions. Besides, she pointed out. a national environment committee was formed, the activities of the national environment management action plan were Sared up and rules were being tmed under the Environment Protection Act. Environment standards were also being ensured to materialise the already adopted environment policy and the provisions of environment act. she added.

"I strongly feel government efforts alone are not enough to solve environmental disorders. Public awareness is very important ...", Hasina said calling upon people of all walks of lire and the NGOs to join in the 'great task of preserving the environment'.

Recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in this field, she said Bangabandhu had undertaken so many programmes for development of environment as part of his arduous struggle for rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

Elaborating, she said, the pioneer of tree-plantation programme in the country Bangabandhu had transformed the then 'race course' into Suhrawardy Uddyan in the heart of the city with a huge plantation of flower and fruit bearing plants, planted a variety of threes in the fallow lands of educational institutions, transformed the sea-shore and offshore islands into green belts and establishea the Bhawal National Uddyan.

In this regard, the PM regretted that trees along the city streets were cut In large number during '77-'8O.

Referring to the danger of environmental degradation. Hasina blamed the rich nations for creating an awesome situation in this planet. "Rich nations are dumping harmful wastes into oceans and rivers, releasing carbon di-oxide and cloro-fluro-carbons in the atmosphere threatening life on the earth."

The Prime Minister noted. Temperature in the sea increasing due to global warming what may cause apprehension of inundation, of the lower region of Bangladesh and the whole of the Maldives under the sea".

The PM cited natural calamities in the country as the outcome of global problems like Greenhouse effect, increased temperature on the earth and depletion of the ozone layer and said desertification and degradation of soil, water and air pose a great threat to the country.

To overcome these, she said Infrastructural facilities for the large segment of the people has to be improved first and added, continuous endeavours inside the country and international cooperation are needed.