As part of environmental conservation, greening and humanitarian assistance, the Bangladesh Army has distributed 26,000 fruit and timber saplings in a single day in Dighinala, Khagrachhari. Saplings and dry food were also given to students of a madrasa and orphanage.

The Dighinala zone under the army's 4 East Bengal Regiment (The Baby Tigers) carried out the activities through two separate programmes on the morning of 19 July.

Army sources said the first programme was held from 9am to 10am at Darul Ulum Sahida Sumaiya Girls' Madrasa and Orphanage in the No 4 Tower Tila area of Merung union, Dighinala upazila. Dighinala zone commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Al-Amin (4 East Bengal) distributed 400 saplings of various fruit and timber species among the institution's 250 female students.

Dry food including dates, flattened rice (chira), biscuits and puffed rice (muri) was also given to the students. Army officers urged the students to plant and care for more trees to protect the environment, saying there is no alternative to tree planting for a green and liveable environment. They added that the army's humanitarian work for the education and welfare of helpless and orphaned children would continue.

The madrasa authorities thanked the Dighinala zone, saying the saplings and food would greatly benefit the students and that such support would play a positive role in their education and environmental awareness.

From 10am to 11am, a large sapling distribution was held at the Dighinala zone under Tree Plantation Campaign 2026, with the theme 'Plan afforestation, build a green Bangladesh'.

On the instructions of zone commander Lieutenant Colonel Al-Amin, 7,000 saplings were distributed at the Dighinala zone and another 19,000 in different parts of the upazila through sub-zones, making a total of 26,000 saplings of various fruit and timber species handed to local people.

Present at the distribution were Dighinala zone second-in-command Major Shihabun Sakib Rushad, psc, zone adjutant Captain Abdullah Al Azmi, Kabakhali union parishad chairman Knowledge Chakma, Boalkhali union parishad chairman Chayan Bikash Chakma, local representatives, print and electronic media journalists, army personnel and local dignitaries.

The army said the programme was organised to protect the environmental balance, conserve the hills' biodiversity, tackle the adverse effects of climate change and raise awareness of tree planting among ordinary people. Saplings of various fruit and timber species were handed to people of both the hill (Pahari) and Bengali communities.

Major Shihabun Sakib Rushad said: "A tree does not just make the environment green; it also secures people's lives, health and future. That is why today we are distributing 26,000 fruit and timber saplings in different areas of Dighinala upazila."

He added that if everyone plants at least one tree and makes sure it is properly cared for, a green, beautiful and liveable Bangladesh can be built for the next generation, and that such public welfare work by the army for environmental conservation will continue.

Local people who received saplings welcomed the initiative, saying the Dighinala zone had set a bright example of social responsibility by combining environmental conservation and greening with support for people in need. They hoped such public welfare and environment-friendly programmes would continue.

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