Continuing its tree-planting programme, trees were planted on Wednesday (1 July) at Dibuapur Secondary School and No 65 Model Government Primary School in Patuakhali Sadar upazila, and fruit and medicinal saplings were distributed among students.

More than 700 saplings of fruit and medicinal trees, including mango, jamun, jackfruit, guava, hog plum, pomelo and amla, were handed out to the students.

At the start of the programme, special prayers and munajat were offered to mark the death anniversary of martyred President Ziaur Rahman. At a discussion after the prayers, speakers recalled Ziaur Rahman's contribution to the Liberation War and nation-building, and the late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's role in the transition to democracy. They also discussed the importance of tree planting for protecting the environment and proper care of trees after planting, including applying fertiliser and irrigation.

Welcome speeches were given by agriculturist Dr Kazi Nazrul Islam Hiron, Barishal divisional coordinator of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, and Syed Md Mostafizur Rahman Rumi, former senior vice-president of the Patuakhali district Jubo Dal.

Those present included agriculturists Professor Md Faruk Hossain Sharif, Professor Dr Md Habibur Rahman, Md Zahirul Haque, Md Zahirul Islam, Md Harun-or-Rashid, Dr HM Khairul Basar, Md Moniruzzaman Prince, Md Atikul Islam Opu, Mahmud Al Zaman, Md Arifur Rahman Noman, Rahat Mahmud, Hachib Mahmud Tushar, Md Monirul Islam, Mujibul Haque Mujib and Nazmul Haque.

Teachers and students of the secondary and primary schools also took part in the tree planting and sapling distribution.

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