Students, teachers, guardians and residents in Dhaka have placed eight demands to protect Baldha Garden, calling for restoration, stronger management, tree research, better care and long-term conservation.
Students, teachers, guardians, local residents and Tree Hospital authorities on Tuesday pressed eight demands to protect the National Botanical Garden ,Baldha Garden, known as the “lungs” of Dhaka South City Corporation, at the end of a three-day programme held to raise awareness about the historic garden.
The demands were announced at Baldha Garden, also recognised as a kunjaban, during a press event held on the first day of the Bengali New Year, Pohela Boishakh, in the presence of electronic and print media representatives and local residents.
The three-day programme, titled “Eso Gach Chini” or “Come, Know the Trees”, was organised by Tree Hospital to mark the celebration of the traditional day, which organizers described as highly significant in Bengali life and heritage.
As part of the programme, students from around 20 schools adjacent to Baldha Garden took part over two days in identifying trees, helping enhance the garden’s environmental beauty and participating in care activities for various sick trees under Tree Hospital’s treatment programme.
Organizers also tried to highlight the importance of the garden to the public and promote the fact that it has received recognition as a kunjaban.
On the third day, which coincided with Pohela Boishakh, certificates were distributed among the participating students and various strategies for saving trees were discussed.
The organisers then placed the following demands for the protection and overall development of Baldha Garden:
They demanded that tree species that have disappeared from the garden be replanted.
They called for the office room inside the garden to be declared a tree research center and for proper activities to be introduced there, saying the space is now being used as a residence by the curator.
They demanded the removal of the curator and the appointment of two botanists who would contribute to the development of trees.
They called for the construction of a separate gate for the Tree Hospital located at one corner of the garden.
They demanded that arrangements be made through Tree Hospital to replace sick trees located at people’s homes or on rooftops entirely free of charge and that the free tree replacement programme continue for life.
They also called for gardeners living inside the garden to be relocated by constructing a gardeners’ barrack outside the main garden area.
They said the kunjaban-recognised garden should be formally declared and run under the kunjaban system, and that the lease system should be abolished in favour of working through mutual understanding with institutions engaged in greening efforts.
They also demanded that Joy House be declared a museum and that the decision be implemented.
In the statement, the signatories sought “earnest support” for the implementation of the demands to ensure the protection and overall improvement of the garden.
The statement was submitted in the name of students, teachers, guardians, local residents and the Tree Hospital management authorities of Baldha Garden (Kunjaban) in Wari, Dhaka.
