Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Aug 15, 2026 (BSS) - Khulna Development Authority (KDA) Chairman Advocate SM Shafiqul Alam Mona today said environmental development is indispensable for making Khulna a modern and fully livable city.

He stressed the need for prioritising tree plantation alongside planned urbanisation to build a modern, attractive and livable Khulna city.

The KDA Chairman was speaking after inaugurating a tree plantation programme at the premises of Khulna Islamia College this morning.

"Trees are our best friends. We get life-saving oxygen from trees. Therefore, environmental development is indispensable for making Khulna a modern and fully livable city," said Mona.

He said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has undertaken a landmark programme to plant at least five crore saplings annually across the country, totalling 25 crore saplings in five years.

"This is not merely a government programme; it is a national movement," he said, adding that trees would be planted at educational institutions, along roads, in residential areas and at religious establishments under the KDA jurisdiction.

He said the objective was not merely to plant trees ceremonially, but to ensure a safe and livable environment for future generations.

Mona, also president of Khulna city unit BNP, called upon people from all walks of life to plant more trees to combat climate change crisis and control rising temperatures in urban areas.

"Planting saplings alone is not enough. We must ensure proper care of every sapling," he said.

Among others, Dr Md Rafiqul Haque Bablu, president of the governing body of Khulna Islamia College, Principal Md Harun-or-Rashid Hawladar, teachers, students, local dignitaries and leaders of political and social organisations attended the programme.

Later, the BNP unit of Ward No. 16 of Khulna city planted trees on the college premises marking the 82nd birth anniversary of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.