Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Md Atiqul Islam has inaugurated a tree-planting programme at Dr Fazle Rabbi Park in the capital's Gulshan to mark 50 years of Bangladesh-Korea friendship.

The DNCC mayor opened the programme, an initiative of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, on Thursday (2 March) afternoon. South Korea's ambassador in Dhaka, Lee Jen Kyun, was present.

The mayor said: "Bangladesh and Korea share a cordial and brotherly relationship. The Korea International Cooperation Agency's tree-planting initiative will take the two countries' relations to a unique height. The two countries also have good economic and cultural ties. DNCC will give full cooperation to such activities in future."

Stressing the importance of trees for the environment, the mayor said: "Trees are an essential part of the environment, yet Dhaka has far fewer trees than it needs. Even the few trees in the city are being cut down to put up structures. Dhaka's temperature keeps rising, and without trees it feels much hotter. To save Dhaka, we must plant trees."

Development work at Dr Fazle Rabbi Park is nearly complete. With ease of care in mind, about 480 trees, including native fruit, timber, medicinal and flowering trees, are planned for the park. In its mangrove forest zone, 85 trees of various species will be planted under the Korea International Cooperation Agency initiative, and the organisation will be responsible for their care for up to six months.

The Korean ambassador praised the DNCC mayor's environmental, public awareness and public service work.

Those present included Mosa Nasima Begum, president of the Korea Bangladesh Alumni Association and member (secretary) of the Planning Commission; DNCC chief executive officer Md Selim Reza; chief engineer Brig Gen Muh Amirul Islam; and secretary Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique.

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