Palm seeds have been planted along both sides of a road in Jhenaidah to help restore nature's balance and guard against lightning. The planting was the initiative of Zahir Raihan, an environmental activist who has won a national award for environmental protection.
The seeds were planted on the afternoon of 9 September along about 3 km of road through the Chandipur-Berashula fields in Ganna union of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Local farmers, teachers and people from many walks of life took part.
The organisers said palm seeds and various other trees have been planted along rural roads in lightning-prone areas. In different areas, at least 7,000 palm seeds have been planted along both sides of about 10 km of road.
A festive planting
Zahir Raihan said he regularly plants palm seeds along roadsides with young people, and also plants and distributes saplings of other trees.
At the Shankarpur-Chandipur field there was a festive mood around the planting. Young and middle-aged people and those of every age worked together in groups: some measured the right spacing with jute sticks, some dug with spades, and others pushed vans loaded with palm seeds to the planting spots. With everyone taking part willingly, palm seeds were planted in rows along the whole two kilometres of the path.
Passer-by Ekramul Kabir said that in an age of tree-felling, Zahir Raihan's love of nature is a fine example, and called on people from all walks of life to follow this initiative to tackle the harmful effects of climate change and build a green world.
Local social worker Nahid Hossain said that when the palm trees grow, they will give shade in the harsh sun, fruit and sap, and will help protect people from lightning.
Zahir Raihan said: "I have planted about 550 palm seeds on both sides of the roughly three-kilometre dirt road from Chandipur bazar to the Berashula field. I am carrying out this programme as far as I am able so that farmers do not lose their lives to lightning. Everyone should work for society and people."
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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