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Wednesday | November 11, 2026 | Dhaka

‘PM acting on green promises since taking office’

 City Desk
 Published: 12:01 AM, 11 November 2026

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been working to fulfil his pre-election environmental pledges since taking office, BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Tuesday.

“Our prime minister is widely appreciated by the people as a green government leader. Even before coming to power through the election, he had announced initiatives to plant 25 crore trees, excavate canals and promote renewable energy.

From the day after becoming Prime Minister, he has been working to turn those promises into reality,” Rizvi said. Rizvi, who also serves as the prime minister’s political adviser, made the remarks while briefing reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after seeing off Tarique Rahman, who left Dhaka on Tuesday morning for a three-day official visit to Turkiye.

The prime minister is travelling to Antalya to attend the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled for November 11 and 12.

Describing his participation in the summit as significant, Rizvi said global warming driven by human activities was intensifying, with rising temperatures posing a serious threat to humanity.

He said government leaders and heads of state from different countries would attend the conference to discuss ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, while experts would share their assessments.

He expressed hope that the discussions would produce effective solutions to the global warming crisis.

“We must save our beautiful planet and make it habitable again. I believe this conference will play a landmark role in restoring the environment of the past,” he added.

Tarique Rahman is accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and a 21-member Bangladesh delegation. He is scheduled to address the conference’s plenary session on November 12 and return home on Friday.

On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the UK foreign secretary. A meeting with the administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is also likely.

Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury told journalists on Monday that the proposed discussions could cover bilateral relations, trade and investment, climate cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

He expressed hope that the meetings would open new avenues for advancing Bangladesh’s economic and geopolitical interests.

Those present at the airport to see off the prime minister included Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat, Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam Moni, Dhaka North City BNP Member Secretary and lawmaker SM Jahangir Hossain, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and the prime minister’s Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar, among others.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, the prime minister’s Special Assistant on Forest, Environment and Climate Change Dr Md Saimum Parvez, PMO Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Professor Dr S M Abdul-Awal, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibli and Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu are among the officials accompanying the prime minister.