Dhaka, 27 Jan – Several hundred roof gardeners got free saplings of fruit-bearing trees at an informal programme at Dhaka University’s Botany Department premises on Friday a
fternoon. The ‘Sabuj Bagan Society’ organized the programme. About 2000 saplings were distributed.Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Consultant Editor, The Asian Age was the chief guest at the function which was presided over by Md. Badrul Haider Bepari. Mizanur Rahman Liton, organizing secretary of the ‘Muktijoddha Santan Command’ and UK based journalist and gardener Fazlul Huq also spoke at the function.
Mostafa Kamal Majumder lauded the efforts of the ‘Sabuj Bagan Society’ in popularizing roof gardening in the capital city which due to unplanned development has lost not only the needed green cover but also open space and water bodies. As a result, Dhaka City is now not only for one of the worst air polluted capital of the world, but also of severe traffic jam and unprecedented rain-induced floods.
He said roof gardens, being popularized in the metropolis for more than a decade has not taken the shape of a popular movement. Roof gardens not only produce the much needed oxygen that is needed to offset the adverse impacts of vehicular as well as industrial emission of carbon dioxide, but also satisfy the urge for aesthetic beauty while giving fruits for consumption at the same time.
Majumder said since most homes in the city do not have backyard gardens, roof gardens can help reduce the gas and contribute to turning Dhaka into a sustainably city where the air will be healthy, residents themselves will produce some fruits and vegetable from their roof gardens for their own consumption. Roof gardens in the city have proved this is possible, he said.
He said in the past people used to take samplings with enthusiasm bur forgot about taking proper care of gardens to get desired output and dropped out. The new generation of roof gardeners are more enthusiastic and spontaneous in their initiatives and were proud to share their successes.
Dhaka can be sustained as a livable city for the next generation only through its environmental, social and economic restoration.
Md Badrul Haider Bepari told the meeting that the society, launched in October 2016, not has more than one 122000 online members, and several thousand active roof gardeners. Its objective is to help reduce air pollution in the city by spreading rood gardening and at the same time crease a source of supply of chemicals-free vegetable and fruits. The society encourages people to have gardens on their building roods, offers them advice and training on organic gardening. The society arranges about three events of free sapling distribution among enthusiastic farmers. – Staff Reporter
