Rangamati road division plans to plant 41,000 trees in five years
The government has launched a nationwide initiative to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, as part of its drive to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability.
In alignment with this, the Rangamati Road Division will plant 41,000 trees along key roads throughout the district.
Superintending Engineer of the Rangamati Road Circle, Mohammad Mehedi Iqbal, formally inaugurated the tree plantation programme on Wednesday (1 April) at the Sapchhari Joint Farm along the Rangamati-Chattogram national highway.
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Following the inauguration, Mohammad Mehedi Iqbal stated that 1,000 saplings would be planted this year, with an additional 10,000 saplings to be planted each year for the subsequent four years, bringing the total to 41,000.
He emphasised that the programme extends beyond mere planting, with maintenance of the saplings ensured for two years. The initiative will include fruit-bearing, forest, and ornamental species.
Attendees at the event included Executive Engineer Sabuj Chakma, Sub-Divisional Engineer Touhidul Bari, and Sub-Assistant Engineers Ronel Chakma and Tithi Chakma, alongside other officials and staff of the Rangamati Road Division.
According to Rangamati Road Division sources, 1,000 saplings will be planted this year along major roads in Rangamati Sadar, Kawkhali, Naniarchar, and Rajasthali upazilas. The selection includes fruit-bearing, medicinal, and ornamental trees.
From 2027 to 2030, an additional 40,000 trees will be planted at a rate of 10,000 per year. The plantation will feature indigenous species, including jarul, palash, sonalu, lal sonail, chandraprabha, kanchan, sajina, neem, monimala, basanta manjuri, amloki, mandar, bokul, jalpai, amra, bohera, haritaki, chatim, nageshwar, and pakur.
Executive Engineer Sabuj Chakma noted that the division aims to plant 41,000 trees over the next five years along both sides of major district and upazila roads under its jurisdiction, as well as in vacant spaces within office compounds.
"Given Rangamati's status as a tourist destination, we will prioritise roadside beautification as part of the plantation programme," he added.
