Plan to plant 16 crore trees
Vice-chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique plants a sapling on Dhaka University campus yesterday as he inaugurates a tree plantation campaign spearheaded by Musa Ibrahim. Photo: STAR
With the aim to raise forestland to 25 percent in the country, Everest hero Musa Ibrahim and friends launched a countrywide tree plantation campaign yesterday. About 16 crore of local species of trees will be planted across the country within next four years under this programme organised by the Everest Foundation. From the fifth year 16 crore trees will be planted annually. "We will give priority to educational institutions across the country for planting the trees," said Musa, addressing the launching ceremony on Dhaka University campus. Another major aim is to discourage people from planting foreign species like Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Mangium as these trees are harmful for the environment, he said. Speaking as the chief guest, Vice-chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said this programme will create awareness among the youths about the environment. Under this programme, 1,000 trees will be planted on DU campus, he said. He said initiatives will be taken for removal of the environmentally harmful trees from the DU campus. Noted botanist Dijen Sharma demanded ban on cultivation of harmful foreign species of trees in the country. Novelist Anisul Haque said such kind of tree plantation campaign will significantly contribute to the conservation of forestland and bio-diversity. Bird specialist Sharif Khan and former captain of Bangladesh Cricket Team Habibul Bashar were present.
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