Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
The plantation of thousands of green trees has made Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet district glittering. The plantation of about 70 thousand trees on both sides of the Sylhet-Zakiganj Road, covering 22 kilometers area, and part of dykes of the Surma and the Kushiyara rivers, covering four unions of the upazila, have taken a new look.
The locals and the environment activists said that the trees were playing significant roles in saving the environment, the ecology and the biodiversity. These also increased the natural beatification and flora fame.
One Zakaria Ahmed of Uttarkul village of the upazila planted the trees on 22 kilometers area of roadside from Lamargram to Atgram in the Sylhet-Zakiganj Road and 40 kilometers areas in Surma and Kushiyara dykes in four unions of the upazila— Sharifganj Pump House to Kushiyara dyke via Borak confluence to Salehpur area of Surma dyke.
Zakaria Ahmed planted the trees taking the road and parts of dykes lease from the LGED and the Water Development Board (WDB) for 10 years. He said that he planted the trees on the roadside and the dykes from 2009.
Visiting the areas, it was seen that Nim, Jackfruit, Amloki, Orthoki, Orjun, Shikoroi, Ranty and some other species of the trees had been planted there. “I planted the trees beside the road and the dykes, spending thousands of taka,” said Zakaria. He regularly takes care of the trees.
Titon Khisa, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Zakiganj, recently gave a certificate to Zakaria Ahmed, praising his work and contribution. The UNO said that Zakaria Ahmed’s initiative is playing a vital role to save the environment. The trees also increased the natural attractiveness of Zakiganj.
