BSS Board of Directors Chairman Anwar Aldin inaugurated a yearlong tree plantation programme in Khulna today. Photo: BSS

KHULNA, June 3, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Board of Directors Chairman Anwar Aldin today inaugurated a yearlong tree plantation programme in Khulna under the initiative of the local socio-cultural organization Haridashkati Swadhinata Sangsad. 

“Tree plantation must be transformed into a social movement. Trees are our sincere and generous friends,” he said while formally launching the programme at the Haridashkati Football Ground in Haridhali Union of Paikgacha Upazila here. Saplings of fruit bearing trees were planted on the occasion. 

He said researchers estimate that the contribution of a 50-year-old tree is worth approximately  $ 188,000 in economic value as trees provide shade, comfort, beauty, and oxygen, form the foundation of the ecosystem. A fully grown tree can supply enough oxygen for ten adults, he added.

Sheikh Al-Ehsan, President of Haridashkati Swadhinata Sangsad, chaired the event which was moderated by its General Secretary Sheikh Shahriar Selim. 

Advisers Sheikh Al Emran and Dr. Sheikh Abdullah Al Mamun; UP Member Sheikh Abdul Gafur; Sheikh Anisur Rahman Shiblu; Sheikh Harun; committee and club members Utpal Dey, Tapan Kar, Khan Javed, Sheikh Sahan Abdullah, Hasan Abdullah, Sheikh Tuhin, Sheikh Mizan, Sheikh Soyeb, Khan Mobarak Hossain, Mridul, Mushfiq, Russell, Sakib, Shahidul, Bob Rocky, Mamun, Ashik, Raihan, Masum, Apon were present, among others.

Anwar Aldin said trees not only help maintain environmental balance but are also connected to every aspect of our daily lives. Due to climate change, deforestation, excessive use of chemicals, encroachment on rivers and canals, and unplanned development, many species of animals, plants, and microorganisms are disappearing, he said. In this reality, trees are not merely a tool for environmental protection; they are a safe refuge for human survival, he added.

The BSS chairman said Islam considers tree plantation to be a noble act of devotion, known in Islamic terminology as Sadaqah Jariyah (unremitting charity). 

He emphasized that humanity can never secure its future by destroying trees, forests, and biodiversity. The shrinking world of trees means a shrinking shield of security for people; he said adding that, “There is no alternative to planting trees if we are to protect the country and the environment from the harmful effects of climate change.”

To build a liveable and green world for future generations, everyone must actively participate in planting trees and ensure that new trees are planted to replace those that are cut down, said Aldin adding that millions of trees are felled every year due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and timber demand. Tree plantation is the only way to compensate for this irreparable loss, he said.

He said rainy season is the ideal time for tree plantation because saplings can establish their roots more easily in moist soil, improving both growth and survival rates. 

Initiatives should be taken in every village and locality to plant native trees, he said adding that fruit-bearing, timber, and medicinal trees should be planted along roadsides, in educational institutions, on government land, and in home gardens. Greater importance should be given to conserving indigenous tree species rather than focusing solely on exotic ornamental trees, he said.

At the same time, efforts should be made to conserve native fish species, indigenous rice varieties, uncultivated leafy vegetables, and aquatic life, said Aldin adding that planting a tree is not merely planting a sapling—it is planting life for the future. Trees are our safe shelter and the greatest guardians of biodiversity, he added.

Urging every household to plant more fruit-bearing, medicinal, and environmental friendly trees, Anwar Aldin said that the historic initiative of planting five crore (50 million) trees, undertaken by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to protect the country from environmental and climate-change-related impacts, would transform the nation's natural environment if successfully implemented.

He said the Prime Minister recognized the severe environmental threats facing Bangladesh due to climate change and therefore emphasized tree plantation in the BNP election manifesto, which is now moving toward implementation.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Al-Ehsan said Haridashkati Swadhinata Sangsad has long been working alongside poor, helpless, and underprivileged people. 

As part of the tree plantation campaign, saplings will be distributed among students of various schools in the upazila, and trees will be planted along roadsides and on unused land.

He added that such tree plantation programmes will play a supportive role in protecting the coastal southern region from the adverse impacts of climate change.