Chattogram Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain has launched a drive to plant one million trees, aiming to restore ecological balance and create a cleaner, greener city through expanded conservation and strict environmental protection.
Chattogram (a city in southeastern Bangladesh) Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain has announced an ambitious plan to plant one million trees across the port city in an effort to restore ecological balance and advance the vision of a cleaner and greener Chattogram. He made the announcement on Thursday while inaugurating the city corporation’s winter tree care campaign in front of the Radisson Blu hotel.
Under the initiative, the Chattogram City Corporation, with support from various social organisations, is carrying out maintenance of trees along major roads and medians while also planting new saplings at multiple locations throughout the city.
Mayor Shahadat said the administration is working systematically to turn every ward into a greener and more visually appealing urban space. In addition to CCC funding, he noted that social groups are being actively engaged to strengthen the citywide greening effort.
He added that Chattogram’s natural beauty and hilly landscape make tree conservation particularly important. As the city expands rapidly, maintaining environmental stability has become critical. Vegetation in the hill areas not only enhances the landscape but also plays a key role in preventing soil erosion, floods and landslides. The mayor stressed that protecting surrounding forests and green belts, along with increasing plantations along rivers and coastal zones, will significantly improve the city’s environment and overall livability.
According to him, trees are more than ornamental assets; they are essential for regulating urban climate and ensuring a safer and more habitable Chattogram. He stated that protecting natural resources must be prioritised and warned against deforestation, hill cutting and indiscriminate removal of trees. Strong laws and strict enforcement are necessary, he said, citing Toronto as an example where unauthorised tree cutting carries fines equivalent to 300,000 to 400,000 taka. Similar penalties, he argued, should be introduced in Bangladesh to deter environmental damage and reinforce society’s bond with nature.
Assistant Engineer Imran Hossain Khoka, Slum Development Officer Moinul Hossain Ali Joy and Deputy Chief Cleaning Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma were present at the event.
