Dhaka: Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Monday pledged to transform the city's areas into greener spaces to restore environmental balance and enhance the livability of Dhaka.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Abdus Salam announced that tree plantation programmes will be conducted daily in various parts of the city. This initiative aims to reduce air pollution and help restore the natural environment. Salam made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a tree plantation and sapling distribution programme at Motijheel Government Boys' High School.
The DSCC organised the event in collaboration with Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh, aligning with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's initiatives for environmental conservation and combating climate change. Salam highlighted the alarming levels of air pollution in Dhaka, emphasizing the need for urgent action to prevent the emergence of diseases and protect nature.
Recalling his school days, Abdus Salam expressed nostalgia for the once lush gardens surrounding the school, lamenting their absence today. He drew parallels between the protective role of the Sundarbans during storms and the life-sustaining benefits of trees, which provide oxygen.
Salam urged students to actively participate in environmental protection, stressing that the future leaders of the country will emerge from among them. He encouraged each student to plant at least one tree at home, on rooftops, or in tubs to contribute to environmental preservation.
The programme was attended by Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman Hamid and acting headteacher of Motijheel Government Boys' High School Tahmina Yasmin, with Prof Syeda Fatema Salam, president of Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh, presiding over the event. The programme concluded with the guests planting saplings on the school premises and distributing various saplings among students and guardians.