Three tree lovers in Narail plant trees in the district's towns alongside their jobs, setting a rare example in protecting the environment. They seem to have taken it upon themselves to protect the environment by planting trees on both sides of various roads in Narail town. They do not stop at planting: they fence the saplings with cages and wrap the base in polythene to protect them, and water the roots themselves for as long as needed. If a tree dies they plant a new one, and they never plant foreign or fast-growing trees that harm the environment.

The three are former Narail municipality Ward 3 councillor Khondoker Al Munsur Billah, son of the late freedom fighter Khondoker Abul Kashem Tarik Billah of the town's Mohishkhola area; primary school teacher Munshi Kamruzzaman Bulbul, son of the late cultural figure Munshi Abdul Mannan; and Nazrul Islam Sheikh, (former) assistant regional director of the Open University's Narail regional office.

Rows of their trees can be seen at the municipal graveyard, beside the government boys' and girls' schools, beside the district Shilpakala Academy and the boys' school field, in front of the deputy commissioner's residence and beside the Muslim hostel of Narail Victoria College. They include mango, jam, jackfruit, wood apple, tropical almond, elephant apple, hog plum, wax apple, amla, palash, kadam and bakul. For 13 long years they have quietly carried out this environment-friendly service with their own money and labour.

The two publicity-shy friends, Khondoker Al Munsur Billah and Munshi Kamruzzaman Bulbul, said: "We dreamed that tired travellers would rest in the shade of native trees, that birds would perch in them and eat the fruit, and that ordinary people could pick fruit too. With that dream, 13 years ago the two of us first began planting mostly fruit trees on government land without harming the roads. Later Nazrul sahib joined, and we worked together for seven years. With no experience, most of the trees we planted early on did not survive. Trees need labour and time. So far we have planted about 2,000 trees, and more than 300 have survived. About 250 trees have borne fruit and flowers. If local people come forward, both sides of the town's roads can be greened."

Khondoker Shawkat, convener of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon's Narail district unit, said: "The country is not getting the afforestation it needs to balance its population. Society benefits from their money and selfless labour, and seeing them, people are becoming keen to plant trees. People eat the fruit, and it also meets birds' need for food. Various bird species have vanished from the country for lack of food." He congratulated the selfless tree lovers.

Narail Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman said: "I did not know about the people planting these trees in Narail town. After looking into it, the administration could formally recognise them. The administration will take steps to protect their trees, and if they want fruit and timber saplings from the forest department, they will certainly be given them."

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