Dhaka: Dhaka is a city of concrete as there are bricks, stone, buildings and the relentless rush of urban life everywhere. As buildings grow up, green spaces continue to shrink. Safe shelter for birds is disappearing, while open skies and the presence of nature are becoming increasingly scarce. Amid this reality, a unique refuge has emerged on a rooftop in the capital 'Akash Neer'-- meaning 'Sky Nest'. With the slogan "Welcome to the world of birds", the rooftop garden, developed as an initiative of the Dhaka District Administration, brings together greenery, flowers, fruit trees, a water body, bird food and safe shelter. Its purpose goes beyond simply turning a rooftop green. It seeks to create a safe space for the biodiversity that is gradually disappearing from the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, an event was organised today around 'Akash Neer'. Divisional Commissioner, Dhaka Md Moniruzzaman Mia was present at the event as the chief guest while Deputy Commissioner (DC) Farida Khanam in the chair. Speaking at the programme, the DC said that in the busy city of bricks and concrete, even a little space for greenery, a breath of fresh air and a quiet place to hear birdsong are becoming increasingly rare. Yet, she said, initiative, care and creativity can bring a touch of green back to the heart of a concrete city. "'Akash Neer' is not merely a rooftop garden; it is a small but meaningful effort to restore greenery, biodiversity and safe habitats for birds in urban life," she said. She explained that the project was designed to create an environment where birds would not merely visit, but could also find safe shelter, food and an opportunity to move about freely.
According to the district administration, 'Akash Neer' contains 418 plants belonging to 58 species. Among them are 229 flower plants of 30 species, planted as sources of food for birds and to support pollination. There are also 41 fruit trees belonging to 14 species, which can provide birds with natural sources of food. To enrich biodiversity, the rooftop also has 44 ornamental plants from 11 species. A water body decorated with lotus and water lilies has been provided for the birds, along with bird baths. For safe shelter, the garden includes artificial thickets made of bamboo, birdhouses and a habitat featuring large trees with canopies. Regular food arrangements have also been made for local rabbits, monkeys and squirrels.
If the rooftops of buildings across Dhaka are gradually turned green and if every person planted at least one tree according to their means, the city could become more livable, beautiful and vibrant, Farida Khanam said. Protecting nature is not the responsibility of the government alone, it is the responsibility of every citizen, she said, adding, "Greenery does not only mean beauty. it means life, wellbeing and a safe future for the next generation."
In his speech, Divisional Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Mia said rapid urbanization is steadily reducing green spaces and habitats for biodiversity. Against this backdrop, he said, rooftop gardens should not be viewed merely as an effort to beautify buildings, it can also play an effective role in protecting the urban environment. He called on the government institutions, individuals and private organisations to introduce greenery on their rooftops and create safe environments for birds. Collective efforts, he said, could bring positive changes to the city's environment.
The Divisional Commissioner described 'Akash Neer' as an initiative aimed at bringing people closer to nature. Such projects, he said, can raise environmental awareness among the city residents while encouraging children and young people to become more responsible towards nature and the biodiversity. The rooftop has also been designed as a place of respite for the people. Away from the noise and pressures of city life, visitors can spend some quiet time amid nature. Aesthetic seating areas, umbrellas and wooden chairs have been arranged for visitors. With the fragrance of flowers, an abundance of greenery and the sound of birds, the rooftop is gradually becoming a small oasis of tranquility in the middle of the city.
Officials of the Dhaka District Administration said the aim is not to confine 'Akash Neer' to a single rooftop garden, but to spread the idea as a concept. If an initiative that begins on one rooftop can spread to hundreds or thousands of rooftops across the city, they said, a new belt of greenery could emerge even within the city's vast concrete landscape. Perhaps that is the quiet message of 'Akash Neer': the journey towards a greener Dhaka can begin with a single rooftop and a safe home for birds can begin with one small patch of green.