Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam formally inaugurated the programme as chief guest while State Minister for Environment and Forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury was present as special guest.

Under the programme, people can collect saplings of different herbal, timber and fruit trees from the BATB's Plant and Planters Nursery in Cantonment Railway Station area from July 5 to 10, from PQS Super Centres at Uttara, Dhanmondi and Shantinagar from July 6 to 7, from Nandan Mega shop at Gulshan from July 8 to 9 and from Meena Bazar at Dhanmondi from July 10 to 11.

Appreciating the BATB's initiative, the minister said, "We need to plant more trees for a better environment. To strengthen the government's effort in this regard, the private companies should come forward to protect the environment for the next generation."

In the last 25 years, the BATB has distributed more than 4.60 crore saplings to speed up the afforestation, said Emil Moskofian, managing director of BATB.

The survival rate of the plants distributed by the company was 90 percent, which made the campaign a success, he added.

Golam Mainuddin, deputy managing director of BATB, was also present at the function.