People give all kinds of gifts at weddings: showpieces, saris, jewellery, crockery, cash, books and much more. Few would think of giving trees. But that is just what happened in Porabariya Purbapara village of Pakundia upazila, Kishoreganj. Not long ago the country was scorching in an intense heatwave, when everyone felt the value of trees at first hand, and with that in mind saplings were given as gifts at a boubhat (wedding reception).

On Saturday (6 July) afternoon, members of the volunteer Facebook group "Voice of Pakundia" gave more than a hundred trees as gifts at the boubhat of Shariful Islam Apel, youngest son of Tajul Islam of the village.

Members of Voice of Pakundia work as a volunteer organisation across Pakundia upazila through a Facebook group. As part of that work, its founder S M Raihan and admin Engineer Ariful Islam caused a stir by giving saplings at the reception. The hosts were delighted with the gift.

Shariful Islam Apel said he had never imagined receiving trees as a gift at his boubhat. The trees will be useful to his family in the days ahead and will also help protect the environment, he said.

Voice of Pakundia founder S M Raihan said: "Breaking with tradition, we tried to give something different, so we gave trees, which help keep the environment in balance. A few months ago we felt the value of trees in the intense heat. Since it is now the monsoon and tree-planting season, we came to the boubhat with this unusual gift to raise public awareness about planting trees."

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