Caritas Bangladesh champions green future with tree plantation drive in Bhasanchar for World Environment Day

Caritas Bangladesh, a humanitarian and social development organization of the Catholic Church, marked World Environment Day 2025 with a major tree plantation initiative on the coastal island of Bhasanchar on June 21 and 22.

The program aimed to raise awareness and inspire action for environmental sustainability among local communities and stakeholders.

This year the theme of World Environment Day was that plastic pollution is a major concern; it is also one of the most fixable of today's environmental challenges, with some obvious solutions at hand.

Organized under the Caritas EA Bhasanchar Project, the two-day event saw enthusiastic participation from government officials, members of the Bangladesh Navy, and over 120 staff and volunteers from Caritas Bangladesh.

On June 21, a plantation event took place at Camp Bhasanchar, where the Honorable Additional RRRRC Mr. Mahfuzar Rahman and CiC Mr. Didarul Alam joined Caritas teams in planting trees across key areas of the camp. The event highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in combating climate change and preserving the island’s fragile ecosystem.

The drive continued on June 22 in GPs 1 and 2—areas directly supported by Caritas—with the presence of distinguished officials from the Bangladesh Navy. Among them were Lieutenant Commander Mr. Mahafuzul Rahaman, Executive Officer of Forward Base Bhasanchar, and Lieutenant Commander Mr. Sourov, Public Relations Officer, who, along with other Navy personnel, actively participated in the plantation effort.

Navy representatives praised Caritas Bangladesh for its consistent commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement in Bhasanchar. “Your efforts are not only planting trees but planting hope for a greener and safer future,” one official remarked.

Caritas staff emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader environmental strategy aligned with the goals of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, which calls for integral ecology and care for our common home.

As climate change increasingly threatens Bangladesh’s vulnerable coastal regions, programs like this demonstrate the vital importance of joint action in building climate resilience and nurturing a culture of environmental responsibility.