About 300 neem saplings have been planted in rows on both sides of a road beside Torra-Boshalgaon, near the border in Haripur, Thakurgaon. The environmental volunteer organisation Oxygen took up the initiative to build an eco-friendly road, highlight the value of medicinal trees and add greenery to the area.
A road lined with green, and the hope of clean air: carrying a message of environmental balance and greening, an unusual initiative built around neem trees is taking shape in Haripur, Thakurgaon, and it is becoming known as the “Oxygen Road”.
The rows of neem saplings on either side of the road, in a rural setting, are slowly growing. The line of trees along the road adds to its natural beauty and could also encourage local people to protect the environment and plant trees.
Those behind the initiative hope the road will grow greener as the saplings grow.
Neem is one of Bangladesh’s best-known medicinal trees. Its leaves, bark, seeds and other parts have long been used in traditional medicine. Although neem is known as a medicinal tree, any use of it to treat illness should follow scientific evidence and expert advice. Besides highlighting the value of such trees by planting neem saplings along the road, the initiative also aims to strengthen people’s sense of responsibility towards the environment.
Humayun Kabir Himel, a local resident and assistant teacher at Boshalgaon Government Primary School beside the Oxygen Road, said climate change, rising temperatures and pollution are major concerns today. In such a situation, planting trees and greening the roadside can play an important role in raising environmental awareness locally. With enough trees along a road, he said, passers-by and local residents get shade and a chance to be closer to nature.
Hakim Abdul Hai said: “I see this initiative to build an ‘Oxygen Road’ with neem trees in Haripur as a very positive, eco-friendly step. There is no alternative to planting trees and greening to deal with climate change, rising temperatures and pollution. Neem trees have many medicinal properties, and they can also make the road more beautiful and give shade.”
Mozahedul Islam Emon, president of Oxygen, said: “We want tree planting to become part of people’s daily lives and of a culture of protecting the environment, not a ritual limited to a particular day. With that in mind, we wanted to build a road that is an eco-friendly initiative and also helps raise awareness among people. Keeping the saplings alive and raising them with care is now our important responsibility.”
He added: “We hope the Oxygen Road will become a positive example for local people of planting trees, caring for them and protecting the environment.”
Haripur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Chandan Kar said: “I have heard that a road has been planted with neem trees and named the Oxygen Road. It is an excellent initiative. We all know the many uses of the neem tree. I want initiatives like this to spread all over the country.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report