Daulatpur, Bangladesh – In a significant move to combat the ongoing heat wave in Bangladesh, the “SFA Tree Plantation Campaign Season 6” was inaugurated on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, under the slogan:
“Daulatpur Becomes a Fruit Garden.”
This campaign, spearheaded by Dr. A.S.M. Musa Kabir, aims to raise awareness and mitigate the effects of extreme heat through extensive tree planting.
The inauguration saw representatives from 117 madrasas in Daulatpur, facilitated by the Daulatpur Ulema Council, gather to receive 1,200 fruit trees, including mango, guava, hog plum, elephant apple, pomelo, and Bakul flower trees. Along with the trees, supports such as poles, ropes, and protective plastics were also provided.
The event was attended by several notable figures, including Daulatpur Upazila Executive Officer Mr. Obaidullah as the chief guest, and Dr. A.S.M. Musa Kabir as the main speaker. Other dignitaries included Maulana Rafiqul Islam Nadvi, Secretary of Kushtia District Ulema Council; Tawhidi Hasan from Prothom Alo national newspaper; Maulana Farooq Hossain, President of Daulatpur Upazila Ulema Council;
Mufti Ashraf Ali, Vice President of Daulatpur Ulema Council; and Maulana Habibur Rahman from the Daulatpur Ulema Council. The event was moderated by M.M. Azim Uddin Siraji, Organizational Secretary of Daulatpur Ulema Council, and Akash Biswas, SFA Director.
According to Smile for All (SFA), the organizing body, the target for this year’s tree plantation is 3,000. Trees have already been distributed to 13 unions through the Ulema Council. Program Manager Al Bukhari Anik mentioned that the remaining trees would be sent to the unions in Chilamari once the monsoon waters recede. He also highlighted plans to focus on flood-prone areas for the remaining tree plantations.
The tree plantation campaign is particularly crucial this year as Bangladesh grapples with a severe heat wave. Trees play a vital role in providing shade, reducing surface temperatures, and improving air quality, thus offering a natural solution to heat mitigation. This initiative not only aims to beautify Daulatpur but also to create a sustainable environment to counteract the rising temperatures.
By raising awareness and engaging the community in tree planting, the campaign hopes to inspire similar efforts across the region, contributing to a greener, cooler, and more resilient Bangladesh.