A tree plantation, tree care and cleanliness programme was held in front of the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan on Monday at the initiative of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, following instructions from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
BNP Acting Secretary General and the Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended the programme as the chief guest at noon.
The programme was chaired by Swechchhasebak Dal central President SM Zillani and conducted by its central General Secretary Rajib Ahsan.
Speaking at the event, Rizvi said the organisation’s cleanliness campaign would inspire many others to take similar initiatives.
He said the organisation is not a government body but a voluntary organisation that had undertaken such activities through its own initiative and contributions from its members.
“These activities have achieved two things: they have improved cleanliness and inspired many others to come forward,” Rizvi said.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had pledged to promote greenery even before the election and announced a programme to plant 25 crore trees over five years as part of Bangladesh’s responsibility to address global warming and climate change.
Rizvi said tree plantation had already exceeded the level required during the first eight to nine months of the programme, adding that the initiative would continue alongside proper care and maintenance of the trees.
“Planting trees alone is not enough. If they do not receive water and dead leaves remain around them, their growth and development will be affected. They need proper care and cleanliness,” he said.
He said Swechchhasebak Dal had taken the responsibility of cleaning, watering and maintaining trees on road islands and medians along major roads.
As part of the initiative, the organisation had arranged several vans equipped with water drums and other necessary tools. Its members would set out from Nayapaltan to carry out similar activities on road islands to the north and south.
Calling it a noble initiative, Rizvi said the programme would help protect the environment and safeguard human life.
Central leaders of Swechchhasebak Dal and leaders from different units were also present at the event.