Paikgacha: As part of the BNP's five-year program, the Paikgacha upazila unit BNP has planted around 3,000 palm tree seeds to help prevent lightning strikes and preserve the environment. Anwar Al-Din, Chairman of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and Joint Editor of the Daily Ittefaq, inaugurated the plantation program at the disaster-prone Talotola area of Kapilmuni under the upazila.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the palm seed planting is part of the BNP's five-year program, announced by its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, to plant 5 billion trees across the country. The initiative was supported by local BNP leaders Sheikh Zakir Hossain and Shahidul Islam Hawlader.
Paikgacha Upazila BNP Convener Dr. Abdul Majid, Merchant Association Convener Sheikh Anarul Islam, Upazila Jubo Dal Convener Tahiduzzaman Mukul, BNP leaders Abul Hossain and Tushar Kanti Mondol, human rights activist and journalist S M Parvez, Oliul Islam, Kapilmuni Press Club Convener H M Shafiul Islam, Member Rafiqul Islam, and journalist Khairul Islam, among others, were present.
After inaugurating the program, Anwar Al-Din stated that Tarique Rahman has announced a program to plant 5 billion trees in five years to preserve environmental balance. As part of this vision, palm seeds are being planted in this ecologically vulnerable region alongside similar initiatives nationwide. He emphasized that for nature and future generations, there is no alternative to expanding such large-scale voluntary seed planting.
He noted that the coastal region of Paikgacha and Koyra, adjacent to the Sundarbans, is increasingly hostile due to climate change. Cyclones, floods, tidal surges, rising surface water levels, and embankment breaches cause widespread flooding, water logging, drought, and heavy rainfall, damaging fish farms and crops.
Anwar Al-Din mentioned that palm trees serve as strong protectors against natural disasters, especially lightning strikes. Palm trees play a role in preventing soil erosion and landslides, replenishing groundwater reserves, and enhancing soil fertility to preserve ecological balance.
He called for turning the voluntary planting of palm, coconut, and areca nut trees, and tall fruit trees effective against lightning into a nationwide social movement.