Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is expected to inaugurate the fair at 11 am.

Addressing a press conference in the PID conference room, Environment and Forests Minister Tariqul Islam said tree fairs would be held in 107 upazilas to strengthen afforestation programme.

Tariqul expressed the hope that saplings worth Tk 1.5 crore would be sold at the National Tree Fair this year. Saplings worth Tk 1.20 crore were sold last year.

He said the government has been working relentlessly for protecting country's forest resources.

He said a programme has been taken to plant one core coconut saplings in eight greater districts in the coastal areas. As part of this programme, 42 lakh coconut saplings would be planted in the current season, he added.

The minister said the Thai government has promised to supply one crore coconut seeds as a friendly gesture to Bangladesh. Four thousand seeds (Thai Tall Variety) are expected to reach Chittagong by June and a Thai expert team is also expected to visit Bangladesh in July, he added.

Tariqul said that the forest department has been instructed to plant those trees which are on the verge of extinction. Effective measures are being taken to halt felling of trees and hill cutting. He said 15 staff of forest department were suspended in this connection.

He said 10 per cent of the country's total area is covered by forest which would be increased to 20 per cent by 2015.