A 15-day tree fair and tree planting campaign has begun at Laldighi ground in Chattogram. The fair was formally opened at noon on Monday, 28 July, organised by the Chattogram North Forest Division with the support of the district administration.

Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Ziauddin was chief guest at the opening. Special guests were Chattogram Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash and Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farid Khanam.

The ceremony was chaired by Chattogram region conservator of forests Molla Rezaul Karim. Divisional forest officers of various forest divisions of the Chattogram region, including S M Kaychar of the Chattogram North Forest Division, were present.

Speakers at the opening highlighted the importance of planned afforestation for protecting the country's biodiversity and environment. They said afforestation will not be sustainable without public awareness, so everyone must come forward to plant and protect trees.

Nursery owners and government and private organisations from different parts of Chattogram are taking part through 60 stalls at this year's fair. Saplings of 2,065 fruit, timber, ornamental and rare species and 210 species of local and foreign cacti are on display.

The fair will be open to the public every day from 9am to 8pm. The forest department said such events will further raise public awareness of planned afforestation, conservation and biodiversity protection.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.