Sometimes driving a van himself, sometimes with others' help, Yasir Arafat delivers tree saplings to people and institutions. He has been doing this for three years, and distributing and planting saplings has become something of a passion. When the monsoon comes, the young businessman from Mirsarai municipal headquarters in Chattogram travels from one end of the upazila to the other. He is the eldest son of Roushanezzaman Bachchu, a resident of ward 7 of Mirsarai municipality, and Ferdous Ara Laki, councillor for a reserved ward.

The young businessman's family owns a restaurant in Mirsarai Sadar, and he pays for the saplings from its income, with his family's encouragement. On Fridays the restaurant feeds destitute people, beggars and the poor free of charge. He also goes to help people in disasters, including those hit by floods in southern Chattogram, to whom he gave food aid.

"Over three years I have distributed 15,000 fruit, timber and medicinal saplings to educational and religious institutions across the upazila," Yasir Arafat said. "I deliver them to different places myself, because when factories are built in Mirsarai's economic zone the environment will suffer. With that in mind I took this initiative to keep the environment in balance. So far I have given saplings to 22 educational institutions, and this will continue."

Osman Goni, councillor of ward 7 of Mirsarai municipality, said: "Arafat's initiative is highly commendable. Distributing and planting saplings has become a passion for him. He does this good work with money earned from his business."

Md Mohiuddin, head teacher of Mirsarai Government Model High School, said: "Arafat is a former student of our school. I like his work very much and am proud of him as our student. Just last Sunday he distributed 700 saplings among the school's students."

Upazila nirbahi officer Mahfuza Jerin said: "I have heard that young businessman Arafat has long been distributing saplings on his own initiative. Everyone should come forward with good work like Arafat's to protect the environment."

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