"People cannot live for ever, and neither will I. But people live on among others through their work. To live on among people through my work, I have taken an unusual initiative. With the slogan 'One child, two trees', I have set out to plant two trees in every family where a child is born. The trees will grow up with the child, and in time the whole area will be covered in green. That is a different kind of feeling!"

So said Md Badsha Miah, chairman of Maheda Union Parishad (UP) in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail.

Whenever he hears of a baby born in Maheda union, the chairman turns up with two saplings, one fruit tree and one timber tree. But if a family has more than two children, he plants no more trees for it. His wife, Razia Begum, stands by him and helps in the work.

Besides planting trees, Chairman Badsha Miah gives each baby Tk 200-500 as a gift, and has each child's birth registered free of charge.

He began the initiative in June 2019, and has so far visited the homes of 212 babies and planted 424 trees, two for each. Badsha Miah was elected chairman as an independent candidate in the UP election of 28 May 2016 and took office on 7 August. He said he spreads word of the initiative at meetings and courtyard gatherings in the union's villages.

On 1 June, the wife of Nur Alam of Hilra village gave birth to twin girls, named Samia Akter and Lamia Akter.

On 8 June, the wife of Humayun Reza of Adabari village gave birth to a girl named Homaira Maisha. On 22 July, the wife of Tarek Al Mamun of the same village gave birth to a boy, named Ratan Miah. On 24 July, the wife of Joynal Shikder of Hilra village gave birth to a boy, named Rihan Shikder.

Visiting their homes, UP chairman Badsha Miah planted an Amrapali mango sapling and a timber sapling for each child. He also gave each baby a gift of Tk 200-500 and had their births registered free; he is said to pay the government birth-registration fee to the parishad himself.

Dipti Sarkar, wife of Dipu Sarkar of Teghuri village, gave birth to two boys and a girl at once. On 1 August, Chairman Badsha Miah went to the house and planted six saplings beside it in the names of the three newborns, Ankan Sarkar, Arpan Sarkar and Aritri Sarkar. Their mother, Dipti, said: "The trees will grow up as the babies grow up."

Arifa Akter, wife of expatriate worker Feroz Miah of Swalpa Maheda village, said: "When the chairman heard my son had been born, he came to our house and planted trees, one mango and one timber (eucalyptus) tree. He gave money as a gift too. I can't tell you how happy I am!"

Julhas Miah of Bil Maheda village said: "When he heard we'd had a daughter, the chairman planted a mango and a eucalyptus tree at our home. It is without doubt a good initiative, because we live on the oxygen trees give us."

Homaira's father, Humayun Reza, said: "The UP chairman came to our house when he heard our daughter had been born. The baby was at a relative's house then. The chairman planted two trees beside the house."

Dewan Parvez of Agchhawali village, member for Ward 4 of the union, said the chairman discussed the programme with everyone on the parishad before taking it up, and everyone is helping him.

He said it is the custom in their villages to put money in a newborn's hand. After planting the trees the chairman also gives the baby some money, which is of some help especially to poor families. He also advises mothers on how to look after themselves and their babies after birth, which is very useful.

Chairman Badsha Miah told Jago News: "My aim is that every newborn grows up in the green shade of trees, and that the people of the union remember me through my work. This work is also strengthening my contact with the people of the area. I believe people will remember me for this small effort."

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