Environmental organisation Green Concern's Foundation held a tree planting programme in Dhaka to mark World Environment Day, under the theme "Let's plant trees on road dividers and decorate the city in green". The programme took place on a road divider in Tejgaon on the afternoon of 4 June. The organisation has taken up tree planting across the country.

The programme was inaugurated by Green Concern's Foundation chairman Md Mojibur Rahman and Nazrul Islam, executive editor of the daily Amader Shomoy. Present were the organisation's secretary Ranjit Sarkar, journalist Bipul Hasan, Abdullah Qafi, foundation members Girish Gairik, Emilia Khanam and Labanya Lipi, and journalist Shahjahan Molla, among others. Aminul Islam, owner of Sikder Enterprise, provided overall support for the programme.

Nazrul Islam said: "There is no alternative to the environment if we are to keep the earth in balance and liveable, as the world is getting warmer day by day. What was the average temperature in this country ten years ago, and what is it now? Everyone has to understand these things. There is no alternative to planting trees to build a liveable country. Everyone should plant at least one tree for a green earth."

Md Mojibur Rahman said: "Global warming prevails around the world, and the only way out is to plant more and more trees. Today Green Concern's Foundation planted trees on the road divider in Tejgaon. We have planted many neem saplings here. Let us all plant at least one tree each and let the earth fill with green."

Secretary Ranjit Sarkar said: "Today we have come together for a beautiful and humane initiative. A tree does not only beautify the environment; it protects our lives, gives pure oxygen, lowers temperatures and makes the city liveable. Climate change, extreme heat, air pollution and environmental disaster are our big challenges now. We will be equally responsible not only for planting trees but for protecting them, because protecting nature means protecting the existence of human civilisation."

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