‘Massive tree plantation to help reduce natural disasters’

KHULNA, June 23: Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju said extensive tree planting is the most effective way to protect the region from the growing impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

“Due to climate change, we are constantly facing various natural calamities. There is no alternative to tree plantation if we want to safeguard this region from disasters,” he said while inaugurating a tree plantation programme on the Ahsan Ullah College ground in the city on Monday morning organised by the social organisation “Brihattor Amra Khulnabashi” as part of a two-month-long tree planting campaign.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of building a greener country, Manju said KCC has already launched a programme to plant 50,000 trees across the city. Trees will be planted along both sides of roads, on median strips, at government offices, religious institutions and other unused lands, he added.

The KCC administrator also said a plan has been taken to plant palm trees along both banks of the Mayur River. 

College Governing Body Chairman and KCC Chief Engineer Mashiuzzaman Khan chaired the inaugural function. Among others, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) Irrufa Sultana, District Education Officer SM Sayedur Rahman, District Primary Education Officer Sheikh Ohidul Alam and Ahsan Ullah College Principal SM Abdus Salam addressed the event.

Later, Manju distributed vans and business materials among four former beggars at the Social Services Office on Sher-e-Bangla Road in the city under a rehabilitation and alternative employment programme implemented by the Department of Social Services (DSS). Deputy Director of the Khulna DSS Kaniz Mostafa chaired the distribution programme.