Distribution of 30,000 Saplings to 170 Organizations in Sitakunda Solidarity with the Five-Year Tree Plantation Program Targeting 2.5 Billion Trees.

Md. Omar Faruk | special correspondent. To maintain environmental balance and combat the adverse effects of climate change, 30,000 saplings of various species have been distributed among 170 social, cultural, educational institutions, cooperative societies, voluntary and youth development organizations in Sitakunda. The program was implemented by the Sitakunda Upazila Social Welfare Federation and Mohsin-Fatema Siddiqui Social Welfare Organization (MFSS), with support from the Department of Forests and the Chattogram North Forest Division. Earlier, 20,000 saplings had already been distributed. With this, the annual target of distributing a total of 50,000 saplings has been achieved. On Saturday (August 8) morning, the sapling distribution ceremony was held at the Sitakunda Upazila Freedom Fighters Complex. The event was presided over by Shamima Nasrin, Executive Director of the Mohsin-Fatema Siddiqui Social Welfare Organization (MFSS). It was conducted by Palash Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Sitakunda Upazila Social Welfare Federation. The chief guest was Md. Fakhrul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sitakunda. Special guests included Master Abdul Mannan, Member Secretary of the Sitakunda Upazila Freedom Fighters Command Council; Joint Convener freedom fighter Abu Kassem; and Kayyum Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Sitakunda Press Club. Speakers at the event included Lion Md. Gias Uddin, President of the Sitakunda Upazila Social Welfare Federation; Organizing Secretary Lion Advocate Md. Sarwar Hossain Lovlu; Kausar Ahmed Sarwari, President of MFSS; and Taisir Uddin, General Secretary of MFSS, along with leaders from various levels of the organization. In his speech as chief guest, UNO Md. Fakhrul Islam said, “There is no alternative to tree plantation in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and play a vital role in maintaining environmental balance by supplying oxygen.” He added that tree plantation must be turned into a social movement to ensure environmental balance and a livable world for future generations. He also called for large-scale plantation of fruit-bearing, forest, and medicinal trees across the country under the government’s five-year target of planting 2.5 billion trees. The event was attended by Vice Presidents of the Sitakunda Upazila Social Welfare Federation Khorshed Alam, Md. Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, A.K.M. Masiuddoula, M.O.H. Kayyum, Jesmin Akter, journalist Kamrul Islam Dulu, Md. Sohel, Lion Engineer Md. Kamruddouza, Md. Shahnewaz, Professor Nurul Gani Chowdhury, Abu Zafar Mohammad Sadek, Md. Omar Faruk, Md. Abu Taher, Nur Khan, Baktier Uddin, Lion Md. Alim Uddin, Wasim Uddin, along with presidents and general secretaries of various social and humanitarian organizations and more than three hundred social workers.