Dhaka South administrator pledges to make city greener through daily tree planting
The city corporation will undertake tree-planting programmes across its jurisdiction to reduce air pollution and restore environmental balance, says Administrator Abdus Salam.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam today (10 August) said the city corporation will undertake extensive tree-planting programmes across its jurisdiction to reduce air pollution, restore environmental balance and make Dhaka more liveable.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a sapling distribution and tree-planting programme at Motijheel Government Boys' High School.
Salam said tree-planting programmes would be held every day in different parts of the city as part of efforts to improve the urban environment.
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"Dhaka city no longer has the greenery it once had. Today, Dhaka ranks among the cities with the highest levels of air pollution in the world, which is not desirable for any of us. There is no alternative to planting more trees to protect nature and reduce carbon dioxide emissions," he said.
Recalling his childhood as a former student of the school, Salam said the gardens he remembered around the campus were no longer there.
"Just as the Sundarbans protects Bangladesh as a natural shield during storms and cyclones, trees also keep us alive by providing oxygen," he said.
At the event, 500 saplings were distributed among students and guardians. Another 500 saplings have been allocated to each constituency under the DSCC, according to the city corporation.
Tree planting has already been carried out in Kamrangirchar, while a similar programme is planned in Khilgaon within the next two days, Salam said.
He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had formulated plans for environmental protection even before coming to power. As part of these initiatives, a plan has been announced to plant 250 million trees across the country, he said.
Salam urged students to take an active role in environmental protection by planting at least one tree at home, on rooftops or in tubs.
The programme was organised by DSCC in collaboration with Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh.
At the end of the event, the guests planted saplings on the school premises and distributed fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal saplings among students and guardians.
