HSBC, Beza, Brac to plant mangroves in Mirsarai

HSBC Bangladesh has recently partnered with Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) and Brac to grow mangrove plantations in Mirsarai. 

The collaboration will see over 40,000 mangrove plantations across 10 acres of coastal land in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar, where HSBC will also support Covid-19 awareness campaigns and skills development programmes.

The HSBC has dedicated this plantation, which is estimated to capture 492 tonnes of carbon each year, to commemorate the 46th National Mourning Day.

HSBC CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman planted saplings at the BSMSN to mark the inauguration of this initiative.

"Mangrove forests are known for incremental carbon capture capacities and it can grow well in the coastal area where water salinity is high," he said.

"This is the very first mangrove initiative by a private sector amongst all the economic zones in Bangladesh and will play its part in ecological development in the area," said Rahman. "This is also in alignment with our HSBC group commitment towards the global carbon transition to net zero emissions," he added.

Shaikh Yusuf Harun, executive chairman of Beza, M Erfan Sharif, additional secretary, and Md Liakath Ali, director of climate change programme at Brac, attended the programme.