A day-long tree planting programme was held at Dhaka University (DU) under the theme "Let us adorn the country with trees, Bangladesh before all".

Al-Arafah Islami Bank organised the programme in the university's Curzon Hall area on Monday, 24 August, in cooperation with the Dhaka University Environment Society and the Arboriculture Centre.

Presided over by Md Rafat Ullah Khan, managing director and chief executive officer of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, the event had former DU vice-chancellor Professor Dr SMA Faiz as chief guest.

Special guests who spoke were Professor Dr Md Abdul Karim, dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences; Professor Dr AHM Zulfiqar Ali, chairman of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment; Professor Dr Mohammad Jasim Uddin, director of the Arboriculture Centre; and Md Fazlur Rahman Chowdhury, deputy managing director of Al-Arafah Islami Bank.

Also present were Professor Dr Afroz Sultana Chamon, Professor Dr Md Jasim Uddin and Professor Dr Md Nadiruzzaman Mondal of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, and Rashed Kamal Anik, general secretary of the Environment Society.

The speakers stressed the importance of tree planting for keeping the environment in balance, tackling the adverse effects of climate change, conserving biodiversity and building a green, liveable Bangladesh.

They said tree planting was not only an effort to protect the environment but also a social responsibility to secure a sustainable, safe world for future generations.

As part of the programme, saplings were distributed to representatives of various halls, including Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Amar Ekushey Hall, Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, Rokeya Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall and Sir AF Rahman Hall.

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