With the theme “Plant Trees, Build a Green Bangladesh” and a commitment to create a green belt along the coast, the DAM Foundation for Economic Development (DFED)—an initiative of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission—distributed fruit-bearing tree saplings to over 400 students on Thursday. This initiative was carried out in BargunaSadarUpazila, Barguna District, under the “Resilient Homestead and Livelihood Support to the Vulnerable Coastal People of Bangladesh (RHL)” project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented through PKSF. The DFED has been implementing this project across eight unions of Barguna Sadar Upazila (Naltona, M. Baliatali, Burirchar, Dholua, Aila Patakata, Badarkhali, Phuljhuri, and Keorabunia) since March 27, 2024.

The project is set to benefit 2,666 ultra-poor persons in the coastal region of Barguna Sadar Upazila, either directly or indirectly. Key activities of the project include constructing or reconstructing climate-resilient homes and raising homestead land; establishing crab hatcheries and promoting crab-farming technologies; rearing goats or sheep using elevated platform (macha) systems; cultivating salt-tolerant vegetables in homestead gardens; and planting mangroves around homesteads and crab enclosures.

Through this project, a total of 6,500 medicinal and fruit-bearing tree saplings will be distributed among the beneficiaries during the 2026–2027 fiscal year. As part of this ongoing initiative, on the first day of the first phase—October 15, 2026—800 tree saplings (400 mango and 400 olive) were distributed among 400 students from five educational institutions in the Sadar Upazila of Barguna district. These institutions include: Parirkhal Secondary School (162 students, 324 saplings), Parirkhal Government Primary School (48 students, 96 saplings), Gorjonbunia College (40 students, 80 saplings), Gorjonbunia Secondary School (81 students, 162 saplings), and Gorjonbunia Government Primary School (69 students, 138 saplings).

This tree-planting program is expected to play a significant role in maintaining environmental balance, promoting greening, and addressing the adverse effects of climate change.

Samir Kishore Hazra, Headmaster of Parirkhal Secondary School, Barguna Sadar, attended the distribution event as the chief guest. Md. Niamul Kabir—an agriculturist, Coordinator (Agriculture), and Focal Person for the RHL project at DFED, Dhaka—was present as a special guest. Also in attendance were Md. Aminul Haque (Project Coordinator, RHL project, DFED), other RHL project staff, and students from the schools. The chief guest remarked that tree planting is essential for both the natural needs of the environment and the advancement of civilization, noting that the monsoon season is the ideal time for planting trees. In coastal regions, these trees will serve as a natural shield against the destructive winds of cyclones. Furthermore, tree planting is a key strategy for countering global warming and carbon emissions. This initiative by DFED will contribute effectively to mitigating the risks of climate change and protecting the coastal environment.