Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has planted 5500 trees at the road dividers from Banani to Farmgate in the capital. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said that each tree is being brought under General Packet Radio Service or GPRS technology to maintain and ensure the growth of these trees with proper care.
While inaugurating the urban greening project at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium at Farmgate in the capital on Saturday (November 18), the Mayor said, trees are being planted on the sidewalks and medians of the roads under Dhaka North City Corporation. About 5500 trees have been planted in different slums. I have planted each tree with ID number through GPRS app. Tree numbering and GPRS mapping are being done. Engineering department is supervising it.
The DNCC Mayor said, I have instructed the waste management department to plant trees on the banks of the canal. The trees we are planting now will turn green after a while, the trees will have flowers, fruits; trees will provide shade, oxygen. Planting a tree is very easy but taking care of it and growing it is a very difficult task.
Atiqul Islam said, “So far we have a mapping of every tree we have planted – how many inches have been planted, how the tree is growing and how the tree is being cared for. There are different challenges. The trees are being cared for. If you plant a tree today, it will definitely bear fruit two years later. I am planting some new trees. Planting Roskau trees. The fruit of the Roskau tree is very popular with birds. We want to see greenery and birds chirping.
Impress Telefilm Limited and Channel I founding director and chief message officer Shaikh Siraj, Shakti Foundation Deputy Executive Director Imran Ahmed, DNCC Chief Executive Officer Md. Salim Reza, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Muhammad Amirul Islam, Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore SM Shariful Islam and others were present at the program.
Among them, Impress Telefilm Limited and Channel I founder director and news chief Shaikh Siraj was present as special guest. He said, ‘It is very important to know which species of trees will be planted in which locality. In the city streets, once trees were planted only with shade trees, later it was decided to plant flowers and fruit trees as well City Corporation especially councilors have important responsibility in greening the city. They need to keep an eye on these trees. However, people have to fulfill their responsibilities from their respective places. Trees should be planted on the rooftop to keep every house, office building cool. It is very nice to see trees and paintings in the middle of the road, this is a great initiative.’
Shakti Foundation Deputy Executive Director Imran Ahmed said, ‘Bangladesh has developed over time, but it is facing various challenges due to global climate change. In terms of air pollution, Dhaka city ranks first in the world. It is the responsibility of all of us to make our beloved Dhaka city pollution free and beautiful and therefore Shakti Foundation is working in collaboration with various organizations including Dhaka North City Corporation, MetLife.’
After the speech, DNCC Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam along with other guests cut the ribbon and inaugurated the greening project and visited the median’s trees and paintings.