Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam, administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), has declared a second war against climate change to save Dhaka.

He made the announcement on 13 June at the opening of the national tree-planting programme at Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park in Gulistan.

The administrator said that, as part of the national tree-planting programme, a total of three lakh trees are planned for the DSCC area over five years from 2026 to 2030. On the opening day, 500 trees were planted in 10 areas of the DSCC.

Speaking as chief guest, the DSCC administrator said: "Just as we took up arms against exploitation in 1971 and won independence, in this second phase of building the country our fight is against climate change, the fight to save Dhaka. To save Dhaka we must plant more trees and make sure the trees we plant are properly cared for."

Thanking the prime minister for announcing a national programme to plant 25 crore trees in five years, Md Abdus Salam said: "I thank the prime minister, as a far-sighted statesman, for giving priority to tree planting, because there is no alternative to it in tackling climate change."

Expressing concern over Dhaka's falling groundwater table and extreme temperatures, the administrator said rainwater cannot soak into the ground because there is too much concrete. "So I urge city residents to leave part of any new building concrete-free and keep it under grass or durba grass," he said.

Announcing special awards for rooftop farmers to help green the city, Md Abdus Salam said the first 10 people doing rooftop farming in Dhaka will be awarded every year by the city corporation to encourage them. A decision on giving rooftop farmers a holding tax rebate will be taken later after discussion with the prime minister.

The event was told that 18,000 trees have already been planted on road medians and traffic islands under the DSCC's zero-waste programme. A central nursery is also being set up at Osmani Udyan, from which trees will be given to citizens as gifts.

The administrator issued a stern warning to protect the city's environment: no commercial or temporary structures may be kept in parks or open spaces that have been leased, and leases will be cancelled if the terms are broken. Mobile courts will also be run every Saturday in all 10 zones to tackle illegal occupation, unlicensed businesses and hawkers.

Finally, he sought the cooperation of people from all walks of life and of journalists to turn Dhaka into a beautiful, "green and clean" megacity. DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Zahirul Islam and other senior officials were present at the opening.

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