Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has handed over and planted 500 saplings on the Dhaka University campus as part of the national tree-planting programme, with the aim of building a green, environment-friendly city.

The programme, organised in coordination with the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal, was formally inaugurated by DSCC administrator Md Abdus Salam, a freedom fighter. The planting took place at the university's Mall Chattar on Monday, 3 August.

Speaking as chief guest, the DSCC administrator said Dhaka University was the cradle of Bangladesh's history, heritage and every democratic movement. From the Pakistan period through every movement to the most recent July uprising, he said, the university's students had played a leading role.

Stressing the need to make the city liveable, he said that every citizen, alongside the government, must come forward from their own position to make a success of the prime minister's initiative to plant 25 crore trees across the country.

Blaming the anti-environment policies of past governments for today's adverse situation, he said trees must be planted wherever vacant land can be found in Dhaka, including at Dhaka University, because there is no alternative to greening for a sustainable environment.

Describing Dhaka's position on the list of the world's polluted cities as disappointing, the administrator said people were constantly falling ill because of environmental and air pollution, and a collective effort was needed to overcome this. If every person in the country planted at least one tree, he said, crores of trees could be planted in a single day, setting a unique example for the world.

Dhaka University pro-vice-chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Almojaddedi Alfesani, Dhaka University Chhatra Dal president Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahos and general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon were among those present.

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