Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Monday pledged to turn the areas under the city corporation into greener spaces to restore environmental balance and make Dhaka more liveable.
He said tree plantation programmes will be conducted every day in different parts of the city to reduce air pollution and help restore the natural environment.
The DSCC administrator made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking tree plantation and distribution of fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal saplings among students and guardians at Motijheel Government Boys' High School in the morning.
The DSCC organised the programme in collaboration with Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh as part of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's priority initiatives for environmental conservation and combating climate change.
“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. If we fail to maintain a clean and healthy environment, various diseases will emerge. There is no alternative to planting more trees to protect nature and reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” Salam, also a former student of Motijheel Government Boys' High School, said.
Recalling his childhood memories, he said, “When I studied at this school, I saw beautiful gardens all around, but they are 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.”
Urging students to take an active role in protecting the environment, the DSCC administrator said, “The future leadership of the country will emerge from among you. You must prepare yourselves accordingly. I urge every student to plant at least one tree at home, on the rooftop or in a tub.”
Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman Hamid and acting headteacher of Motijheel Government Boys' High School Tahmina Yasmin attended the programme as special guests with Prof Syeda Fatema Salam, president of Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh, in the chair.
At the end of the programme, the guests planted saplings on the school premises and distributed saplings of different species among students and guardians.