Cover Story
How Green Was My City
Old timers try to sell us the story of a Dhaka that used to be “rich in nature”. The streets, they say, used to be a sight to behold. Lined with trees of all size and shapes, filled with little ponds and lakes, Dhaka was truly the utopia of nature lovers. It seems like urban legend to many who are used to the congested, smoke-filled roads of the city. We are too busy cutting off our trees and then complaining about the lack of flora in the city to notice why our Dhaka is no longer the nature haven people claim it used to be. In order to save our environment and in turn our own lives, it has become imperative for us to understand the value of trees and learn how to preserve them from total annihilation.
Instead of allowing for room between blocks of private residences, buildings are stacked next to each other, obstructing proper circulation of air. Photo: Prabir Das
Samia Ahmed loves her potted plants. She has set a pretty little garden for herself in the balcony of her three-bedroom apartment. Her children often complain that her plants see more of her than they do. But Samia says that she feels happiest amongst her green friends.
Samia grew up in a Dhaka which was abundant with every shade of nature. Lush green trees, clear lakes, relatively fresh air – these were a given part of her youth. She remembers waking up to the smell of fresh fruits emanating from the trees in the courtyard of her childhood home. Her vacation mornings were spent under the shade of the mango tree with a book to keep company. It is small wonder that she took this sight for granted; she never thought that there would come a day when she would starve for some greenery.
It seems absurd to imagine that the arid metropolis we now live in used to once be known as the City of Trees. The Dhaka most of us are familiar with is a virtually airless city, its streets choked up with vehicles of all shapes and sizes. It isn't at all unusual to hear a litany of complaints regarding the pollution levels and the lack of space in the city. If you are living in Dhaka today, you cringe at the thought of going out to run a small errand. Leaving the comforts of your house to step into the unforgiving heat is an ordeal. Even a walk on the roads of Mohammadpur or going for a daily jog in Mirpur has become more of a pain than pleasure. It may be difficult to believe but these dense, over-populated areas of today were actually quite pleasant in the days of yore.
Ashfaque Haider, a 64-year old retired teacher, lived in Mohammadpur all his childhood and for the better part of his youth. Trees lined the sidewalks, providing enough shade to cool the blistering heat, Ashfaque says. The sky was a clearer blue and people could not feel the heat as they do now even during most sweltering days of summer.
Experts say that the very planning of Dhaka city is flawed. Photo: Prabir Das
“My friends and I would usually walk to most places because that would be more convenient. Even though the sun could get as cruel as it does now, we wouldn't tire as easily as kids nowadays do. Trees provided us with shade that kept the heat at bay,” Ashfaque says.
Trees and open places with vegetation play an important role in combating temperature rise in the city. Pavements and roads of the city heat during the day, making it hotter at night. Moreover with the increased use of air conditioners in Dhaka, the city heats up quicker than it would have in the past as the exhaust heat of A/Cs push up the temperature. Apart from providing shade, trees evaporate water through their leaves, thus taking away the heat. Ironically, instead of saving these air conditioners of nature, we cut them down to make matters much worse for us than they already are.
The flaw lies in the planning of the city, says Serajul Islam Chowdhury, eminent litterateur, editor and professor emeritus of Dhaka University as well as a passionate activist against tree-cutting. There should be room between blocks of private residences to allow for breathing space. Instead, buildings are stacked next to each other, and there is no circulation of air, he adds.
“The city has turned into a developed slum which is unfit for living. There is no vitality of life here anymore because there is a serious paucity of oxygen-producing greenery, and we're bent on getting rid of what's left of it,” says Chowdhury.
Stipulations in Dhaka's urban planning in 1919 stated that the city should have a green belt, even prescribing the number of trees that should be planted within the belt, says noted author and historian Professor Muntasir Mamoon. However, this plan was not as thoroughly implemented as it should have been.
Prof Muntasir Mamoon and Prof Serajul Islam Chowhdury, constantchampions of a greener city. Photos: Star File “A formal survey ought to be conducted to ascertain the present condition of trees in Dhaka. That should give us a proper understanding about where we stand in terms of our concern towards nature,” Mamoon says. Dhaka was as packed with dingy shops crowding its roads and pavements in the past as it is now, says Chowdhury. However, the abundance of flora within the city made it more liveable, he adds. The greenery that defined the city is now being stripped away for commercial purposes, Chowdhury says. People don't even have the option to visit parks anymore for a bit of green, as they are being replaced by residential complexes or business centres. “Land grabbers occupy parks for their selfish reasons. People cut trees with no thought toward the effect on the environment. How can we expect our children to understand the value of nature when we don't?” questions Chowdhury. A country that is notorious for floods should be more careful about its treatment of trees. With fewer trees, the soil is unprotected and is consequently eroded. Its sediment goes into the sea, increasing the volume of water and load on rivers. Trees usually catch the water on their leaves when heavy rain occurs. But with fewer trees, the land becomes a runoff, increasing the volume of floodwater.
Trees are brutally cut during hartals with no thought given to how this would affect the environment. Photo: Prabir Das
"Trees act as natural weapons that can be used to combat more violent forces of nature" says Md Ahsanul Haque Khan, Chief Architect of the Department of Architecture of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. "People keep wondering about climate change and how it can be confronted. Well, the answer is staring us in the face but we are too busy to notice,” he adds.
Traditional residential homes are being replaced by high-rise buildings. The trees that surrounded homes are being cut down to make way for bigger parking garages and larger lobbies. In our need to increase land for settlements and urbanisation, we consider the felling of trees to be a small sacrifice. With more and more people moving into the capital city, there is a dire need for land space. Proponents of decentralisation argue that there would be more room for nature to flourish if the pressure was to be taken off the capital city. With equal opportunities offered outside of Dhaka, people could earn sustainable livelihoods within their hometowns, thus leaving more space for both development and nature to cohabitate.
"We are yet to find a balance with nature that can help us progress economically as well as mitigate the sufferings on the environment", says Serajul Islam Chowhdury. "An unplanned, unbalanced plunge into what we consider to be development could be dangerous for our environment.”
Photo: Prabir Das
Those who are interested in preserving nature by not giving into the commercial demands of the day have to suffer from the unthinking activities of others. They are often surrounded by inconsiderate neighbours who are almost belligerent in their disregard to the flora so lovingly nurtured by their owners.
"With more and more high-rises being built in Dhaka, there is not much space or scope for individual homes to coexist alongside them. Neighbours from nearby buildings thoughtlessly throw garbage out of their windows when they see that the plot beside theirs is occupied by home owners,” says Mohammad Ahsanul Haque Khan.
Home owners usually suffer from the demanding lifestyle of the city which makes it difficult for them to maintain their homes. Thus, they often opt for selling the land to real estate agents, vainly wishing that they will be able to recreate the natural space within their new residence. Sadly, that is seldom so.
Housing developers are obviously most interested in making the maximum profits by building high-rises with a number of flats that are cramped for space. Rooms of the buildings leave limited breathing space; a separate area where plant life can be nurtured in peace is unthinkable in such contexts.
Md Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the government, informed us that the felling of trees to accommodate new buildings does not fall under the jurisdiction of the said department. When pressed for more information, the chief engineer stated that the department tries to avoid the cutting of trees during the construction of new buildings but are often left with no option but to compromise.
“Do you have any idea about the lack of land space in Dhaka? Growing demands for more housing projects force us to cut trees where there is a need but we don't do so when it is avoidable,” says Bhuiyan.
Interestingly, Bhuiyan's trite response is in contrast to the department's website information which states that “special emphasis has been given” by the PWD to “the planting of trees in all protect areas and the construction and conservation of lakes and ponds.” The site also states that the PWD works to “protect government interest regarding the environment” by integrating “environmental considerations into housing and urban planning activities.” Despite such takk claims on PWD's website, the chief engineer was inclined to say that environmental concerns around construction of buildings don't fall under his department's command.
Plants and trees can be grown within the boundary of building complexes. Photo: Prabir Das
Md Ahsanul Haque Khan, on the other hand, believes that those citing space constraints as a reason to fell trees don't understand that nature can be accommodated within the boundaries of any building complex. Citing the example of Singapore, Khan argues that strict conditions are set within the building codes of the said country regarding the inclusion of breathing space within buildings.
Khan says that his department has made amendments to the National Building Code to include for a certain percentage of green space that should be set aside within every high-rise building to be constructed in future. He hopes that the amended building code will be passed soon.
“We have included a provision in the National Building Code which makes it mandatory for owners to set at least 40 percent green space within their buildings. If they fail to do so, their project will not be passed by the government,” he adds.
When asked if RAJUK was also obligated to follow the amended rules, Khan says that under the building code, the autonomous city development body would have to check after giving permission for a building construction to see if the owners had allocated a green space as required.
Khandakar Salahuddin, member of the development section of RAJUK, says that a building is permitted to be constructed only after permission is given by the Ministry of Environment.
“We are careful to seek clearance from the Environment Ministry before approving the construction, particularly in the case of high-rise buildings,” he says.
As a city, we lack an understanding about the kinds of plants and trees that would suit the country's climate and weather, says Serajul Islam Chowdhury. Trees are not merely for the beautification of a city but they also serve a purpose, he adds.
“We often see foreign trees and plants brought in to decorate the pavements and streets of the city. That is a huge mistake in part of the government as our climate is not suitable for the sustained growth of these trees,” he says.
Chowdhury suggests planting local, preferably fruit bearing, trees in the city as that would promote the country's flora and would be easier to maintain as well.
People nowadays have to depend on potted plants for a bit of green in their lives. Photo: Prabir Das
Muntasir Mamoon believes that concerned authorities don't have a holistic knowledge of proper maintenance and protection of trees and plants. Citing the example of Bakul trees seen on some traffic islands, Mamoon states that these trees are not given the attention they deserve and thus, are not able to grow to their full potential.
We mostly hear only about the environmental and social values of trees. As inherently materialistic creatures, human beings usually need a commercial motive to drive their decisions. Trees increase in monetary value over time. While individual trees and plants definitely have value, the collective influence of a well-maintained landscape can result in a positive economic impact. In countries like the United States and Canada, the value of a property increases significantly with the presence of good landscaping. Realtors in those countries believe that mature trees have a strong impact on the saleability prospects of a house.
Housing developers of the city are moving their projects further and further away from the city in an attempt to lure customers with the promise of scenic greenery around them. It would be a more logical solution to develop urban areas that already have trees and plants surrounding them to ensure that people don't have to leave the city to enjoy nature. Sadly, the popular notion in our country dictates that properties with vegetation will not be as economically valuable as vacant lands.
"Bangladesh walks in the opposite direction from the rest of the world. While people in other countries are ready to pay extra for a natural landscape, we Bangladeshis are willing to sacrifice our open spaces in favour of small concrete boxes,” says Md Ahsanul Haque Khan.
Ayesha Khanam, 55, sold her property after her husband died some years ago. The present owners promised that they would not sell the land to developers and keep the house as it was. When she went back to visit a few months later, Ayesha was surprised to see that the owners had kept their promise. Moreover, the owners had even retained the garden she loved so much and maintained her trees and shrubs with as much care as she had.
"They said that the garden offered them a peace of mind they could not get in the flat in which they lived earlier. They further went on to add that the trees kept nosy neighbours at bay and also helped to reduce the sound pollution from the busy roads,” Ayesha adds with satisfaction.
There are a number of areas in Dhaka where a green sight still welcomes us. You will find the temperature dropping immediately when you visit Dhaka University in Fuller Road or if you happen to drive by the posh locality of Mintu Road. These areas have been able to hold on to a part of the lost City of Trees only because a conscious effort were made to do so.
"Teachers and students of Dhaka University will never allow for their trees to be felled by any government or authority. Whenever there have been attempts to cut down some trees, the students and teachers hit the streets in protest. They carried out protest movements until the authorities were forced to back down,” says Muntasir Mamoon.
Our country was singular in the richness of its flora. The natural wealth of that is reflected even in our proud green flag. It is unfortunate that our capital has been denuded of its trees and the multitude of aesthetic, health-related, and environmental benefits that these stalwarts of nature provide. While we may struggle to keep some greenery alive in our small ways, the government must make a sincere effort to retain whatever existing greenery we have in this city that is gasping for air.
A drive through neighbourhoods like Mintu Road gladdens the heart as the streets are lined with beautiful trees that cleanse the air and shades people from the brutal heat. Photo: Prabir Das
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