The government will plant 10 million saplings across the country marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen came up with the information on Wednesday saying the year-long ‘Mujib Borsho’ celebration will begin on March 17 next year. He encouraged all to plant saplings everywhere.

The Minister also referred to the destruction of forest land by Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district since the 2017 influx.

Bangladesh has given shelter to forcefully displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar on 6,800 acres of forest land in the coastal district.

It is in an extremely vulnerable location and the presence of Rohingyas is affecting Bangladesh’s ecosystem, the government says.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that March 2020 to March 2021 would be observed as ‘Mujib Borsho’ (Mujib Year) across the country to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

Year-long programmes at home and abroad will be observed with the participation of the mass people at the government and party levels apart from engagement from Bangladesh’s foreign friends.

‘Mujib Borsho’ will be followed by the golden jubilee celebration of the country's independence in 2021.