Dhaka, June 13 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has officially launched a nationwide environmental campaign to plant 250 million trees over the next five years.

The premier initiated the massive afforestation drive on Saturday by planting a Garjan sapling at the Malumghat Reserved Forest in Cox's Bazar's Dulahazara at 2:45pm.

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and other lawmakers joined the ceremony by planting saplings of 11 different tree varieties.

The five-year afforestation project was a core election pledge of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

By kicking off the campaign at Malumghat, party Chairman Tarique checked off another key campaign commitment.

The BNP, which formed the governme...