Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj 

In a bid to transform Narayanganj into a green city, the district administration has successfully completed a tree plantation campaign of one lakh (100,000) trees in 60 days under the “Green and Clean” initiative. 

The last  tree was planted on Thursday afternoon at the Signboard area of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, marking the completion of this ambitious campaign. With this, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia officially reached the milestone, symbolizing the beginning of a greener and cleaner “Dandy of the East.”

According to the district administration, the rapid increase in carbon dioxide levels and growing air pollution in this industrial city prompted DC Zahidul Islam Mia to take up the afforestation initiative. The goal was to promote environmentally friendly development and urbanization by transforming Narayanganj into a sustainable and green city.

With the slogan “Narayanganj will be lush with greenery; the Dandy of the East will be the best in the world,” the district administration launched the tree plantation campaign on May 10 under the Green and Clean Narayanganj initiative. The campaign was formally inaugurated by Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Division.

With support from the Department of Forest and Environment as well as advisors and senior officials from various ministries, the district administration planted trees along 180.3 kilometers of roads over the 60-day period. The campaign included a variety of fruit-bearing, medicinal, and timber trees, both local and foreign species.

Over the past two months, massive plantation efforts were carried out in 5 upazilas, 39 unions, 5 municipalities, and all 27 wards of Narayanganj City Corporation. A total of 117 designated spots, 42 government institutions, 310 educational institutions, 180.3 kilometers of roadside, and 4 kilometers of canal banks were used for the planting of 100,000 trees. Among the 48 species planted were cherry, pink trumpet, jacaranda, foxtail palm, gloria syria, and rain tree.

A particularly eye-catching feature of the campaign was the planting of 3,000 deb-daru (polyalthia longifolia) trees along the Dhaka–Narayanganj link road, turning the entire corridor into a scenic, green boulevard. Special emphasis was also given to historical and tourist sites like Hajiganj Fort and the banks of the Shitalakshya River for green development.

The campaign saw enthusiastic participation from political leaders, civil society members, student organizations, public and private officials, and various environmental groups. On the ground, the work was carried out by 156 government officials and staff, 100 sanitation workers, 660 gardening laborers, countless volunteers, and at least 20 social and environmental organizations.

Speaking about the initiative, DC Zahidul Islam Mia said, “We envision a Narayanganj where urban facilities, environmental preservation, and heritage go hand in hand. This initiative is the first step toward that dream. It represents a participatory, environmentally conscious, and sustainable development approach and will serve as a model for building a green and humane city.”

The Deputy Commissioner further stated that the Green and Clean Narayanganj program will continue and that efforts will also be made, in coordination with the city corporation and the police, to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Meanwhile, members of the local civil society have praised the initiative and called for proper care and maintenance of the planted trees. They also urged the general public to become more environmentally aware and take responsibility for protecting the green legacy.