The environment ministry on Wednesday distributed awards for biodiversity conservation, environment protection and tree plantation, marking the World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2025.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan handed over the awards for the outstanding contributions made in the aforementioned fields in 2024. The World Environment Day is observed globally every year on 5 June, but has been observed in Bangladesh on 25 June this year due to delays incurred by Eid-ul-Azha holidays.

The Wildlife Conservation National Award was introduced in 2010 to encourage conservation of forests, nature, and wildlife at the national level.

The 2025 awardees include Md Fazle Rabbi from Natore (individual category), Sherpur Bird Conservation Society (organization category), Department of Zoology at University of Dhaka and Dr Md Monowar Hossain, professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University. Each recipient was awarded a 22-carat gold medal (weighing two bhori), a cheque of Tk1 lakh, and a certificate.

The National Environment Medal 2024 was awarded to Md Mahmudul Islam, Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, and Professor Dr M Firoz Ahmed in individual categories. In the institutional categories, the award went to Snowtex Outerwear Ltd (Dhamrai), Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

Each medal included a cash prize equivalent to the market value of two tola gold, a cheque of Tk50,000, a crest, and a certificate.

In recognition of exemplary efforts on tree plantation, the National Award for Tree Plantation 2024 was given in seven categories. First-place awardees included Dalgram Dimukhi High School (Lalmonirhat), the Office of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Manikchhari, Dilruba Rahman from Tangail, Sohel Nursery (Rangpur), Deputy Commissioner Asma Shaheen of Natore, the Chattogram North Forest Division, and the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute. Each winner received a certificate, a crest, and a cheque worth Tk1 lakh, Tk75,000, or Tk50,000 based on their position.

Additionally, ten beneficiaries of social forestry who earned the highest profits were honoured with cheques. Among them, Md. Shahaj Uddin received Tk607,950, Ukil Murmu received Tk557,325, and Monowara Begum received Tk416,700.

Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan expressed her hope that these recognitions would further inspire citizens to actively engage in environmental protection and conservation efforts.

Also present on stage were Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; Dr Md Kamruzzaman, director general of the Department of Environment; and Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, chief conservator of forests.