Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has said that a ‘Zero Soil’ initiative is being implemented to reduce air pollution caused by dust in Dhaka.
She emphasized that the city corporation, the forest department, and citizens must work together to implement this initiative. Open soil around houses should be covered with grass or ivy, and trees should be planted on rooftops. “Plant as many trees as you can, and ensure Zero Soil wherever there is open space,” she said.
She made these remarks on Thursday at the inauguration ceremony of a tree plantation programme, jointly organized by the Forest Department and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at Harar Bari premises in Purbachal New Town.
Under this programme, saplings are planted along road medians, footpaths, canal and waterbody banks, and other green areas.
Rizwana further stated, “We aim to set an example in the DNCC area by September. Everyone must understand the importance of greening and practice it in real life. We must not destroy natural ecosystems. A forest ecosystem cannot be artificially created—it must be nurtured and grown.”
She also stressed the need for integrating housing with forest-based environments and called on all concerned agencies to begin coordinated implementation of planned activities.
According to DNCC sources, the city corporation is currently working to green 120 km of medians and 108 km of canal banks. In addition, joint afforestation programmes have been undertaken in RAJUK’s Uttara Residential Sector and Purbachal. Local communities and volunteer organizations have also been engaged in this effort.
The event was chaired by DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz and attended by Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Engineer Md. Riazul Islam, Chairman of RAJUK; and Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, chief conservator of Forests, among others.
Following the ceremony, the environment adviser inaugurated the Zero Soil programme by planting grass on the roadside next to the Banani graveyard.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
