Sattaranjan Saha Harirampur, Manikganj
Trees have furnished us with two of life’s essentials, food and oxygen. As we evolved, they provided additional necessities such as shelter, medicine, and tools. Trees are an important part of every community. When our streets, parks, playgrounds and backyards are lined with trees it creates a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment. On the other hand, trees contribute to the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate improvement, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. Besides, trees control climate by moderating the effects of the sun, rain and wind. Leaves absorb and filter the sun’s radiant energy, keeping things cool in summer. Since the beginning of life the trees have been doing lot of things to make us healthy and wealthy. However, despite the important roles by trees we human beings have been involved in killing and uprooting trees for our so called interest. Realizing the important contribution of trees, the youths in Harrirampur of Manikgonj district being facilitated and motivated by BARCIK have been planting, nourishing and protecting trees through their integrated initiatives for the last 6 years.
However, most of landscape of Harirampur upazila in Manikganj district is under the category of Char (a tract of land surrounded by the waters). The river Padma flows through the Upazila. About 35 years ago, the Padma Char awakened and human settlements were formed on the chars. People of the char used to plant wood and fruit trees to protect them from the floods. But as days passed on, the number of those trees has decreased due to the unplanned activities implemented in the area. People of the char often suffer from different climate disasters especially the thunderstorm which takes away lives of many recently. Realizing the importance of palm and date trees for withstanding disaster such as thunderstorm the local youths have been planting palm, date and other local trees in roadsides, fallow lands, bank of rivers and other places since 2014 being motivated by BARCIK.
The Harirampur Youth Volunteer Team along with school, college students and other young people also have been taking a big role in this plantation. They planted palm, date seeds and Bot Pakar saplings. They have covered lot of areas through their plantation. Those planted trees have grown up and provided shades as well. The planted trees by the youths have also shown ray of hopes for the people who live in char areas that they will be able to protect themselves from riverbank erosion and floods.
In this regard, Mir Nadim Hossain, said, ‘we take initiative to sow palm and date seeds so that after few years when these trees grow big they will protect us from thunderstorm and lightning. BARCIK has been helping the youths to plant palm dates and fruit saplings on the roadside and other fallow lands since 2014. The seeds of palm and date which were sown previously have become trees. As a result, it can be seen on the roadside today. However, the density should be increased by re-sowing those palm and date seeds. Our tree plantation activities will continue.’
Zakir Hossain, convener of the Harirampur online volunteer team, said, ‘the youths comprised volunteer team, government primary school students and students and teachers of the madrasa collected the seeds from different places and persons.’ He went on saying, ‘We have sown those seeds on roadside and fallow lands. We are promoting palm seed sowing and cooperating with BARCIK.’
On the other hand, Md. Russell, President of the Patgramchar Volunteer Team in Harirampur, said, ‘palm and date palms help to prevent erosion of road and streets. There is no palm tree in the char. That is why we take the initiative to sow palm and date seeds on the roadside every year. It makes the environment healthy and fresh and reduces the loss of life and property. Tree planting activities will continue on.’ Ajina Begum, president of the Patgramchar Women’s Development Organization in Harirampur, said, ‘People’s enthusiasm and initiative for tree plantation has increased. However, there are no big palm and date palm trees in the char. The seeds sown by the volunteer team and youths on the roadside are growing into seedlings. BARCIK has been motivating us to plant trees. It also provides us with fruit herbs, forest saplings so that we could set up family nurseries.’
Seedlings of palm and date seeds sown on the roadside 6 years ago are growing on. The char people themselves take care and nourish those trees. The members of youth volunteer team sow palm and date seeds every year to make the environment healthy and protect themselves from disasters.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
