Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has planted 1,600 trees of various species to restore Dhaka's biodiversity and improve the urban environment.

The trees were planted at Diabari in Dhaka on 23 September.

DNCC said the planting was part of its initiative to plant 5 lakh trees. The programme was organised by Green Savers with the cooperation of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Dhaka North City Corporation and the Forest Department.

DNCC administrator Mohammad Ejaz was chief guest at the launch, and Green Savers chief executive Ahsan Roni presided.

Speaking as chief guest, Mohammad Ejaz said an initiative has been taken to end Dhaka's waterlogging permanently by channelling water out of the city through various canals. Considering air pollution, environmental protection and cleanliness, a move has also been made to take Dhaka's STSs underground. He added that, to build an inclusive city through gender mainstreaming, the city corporation is creating business opportunities for the hijra community.

The administrator said a special initiative called "Tree Doctor" has been launched for people who plant trees privately. There are also plans for a tree museum in Dhaka, and steps have been taken to conserve the city's urban biodiversity hotspots.

Giving the welcome speech, Mahmuda Roksana Sultana, divisional forest officer of the Forest Department's Dhaka division, said tree planting and soil conservation have been completed from Amtali to Gulshan-1, and trees have also been planted around Baunia canal. "These activities will continue, with the aim of covering Dhaka in green," she said.

Forest Department conservator of forests Hussain Mohammad Nishad, deputy chief conservator of forests Mohammad Moinuddin Khan, IDCOL chief risk officer Mohammad Javed Iqbal and IDCOL executive vice president Raihan Uddin were also present.

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