Plan to initiate shared afforestation in CHT
Staff Correspondent
The government is contemplating to initiate a shared afforestation programme involving the inhabitants of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) for the economic emancipation of the local people, enhancement of national resources and overall improvement of the environment. An inter-ministerial meeting in Dhaka yesterday decided that a co-ordinated afforestation programme will be undertaken at the CHT reserve forest by involving ministries and departments concerned including the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council and Development Board, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati Hill Districts Council and the local inhabitants. Presided over by Forest and Environment Minister Tariqul Islam, the meeting was attended, among others, by State Minister for Forest and Environment Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, Deputy Minister for CHT Affairs Moni Swapan Dewan, Chairman of Bandarban Hill District Ma Mra Ching, Chairman of Khagrachhari Hill District Nakstra Devbarman, Forest and Environment Secretary Dr Shoaib Ahmed, Secretary of CHT Affairs Ministry Shajahan Majumder and Chief Forest Conservator M Anwarul Islam. The forest department will initiate the afforestation programme on the basis of resource sharing with local inhabitants keeping pace with their socio-cultural life. The government will provide saplings, fertiliser and other inputs, and share 50 percent of the revenue with the people involved in the afforestation programme.
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