Photo : BSS

KHULNA, June 22, 2026 (BSS) - Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju today said extensive tree plantation is the most effective way to protect the region from the growing impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

"Due to climate change, we are constantly facing various natural calamities. There is no alternative to tree plantation if we want to safeguard this region from disasters," he said while inaugurating a tree plantation programme at the Ahsan Ullah College ground in the city this morning.

The programme was organized by the social organization "Brihattor Amra Khulnabashi" as part of a two-month-long tree plantation campaign in support of the government's greening initiative.

Referring to the Prime Minister's vision of building a greener country, Manju said KCC has already launched a programme to plant 50,000 trees across the metropolis. Trees will be planted along both sides of roads, on median strips, at government offices, religious institutions and other unused lands, he added.

The KCC administrator thanked the organizers for undertaking the programme and said a plan has been taken to plant palm trees along both banks of the Mayur River. He urged educational institutions and social organizations to participate in afforestation efforts and turn tree plantation into a social movement extending from urban centres to remote areas.

The inaugural function was chaired by college governing body chairman and KCC Chief Engineer Mashiuzzaman Khan. 

Later, Manju distributed vans and business materials among four former beggars at the Social Services Office on Sher-e-Bangla Road in the city under a rehabilitation and alternative employment programme implemented by the Department of Social Services.

Welcoming the government initiative, he said the programme would help rehabilitate one of the most neglected sections of society and enable them to establish themselves as small entrepreneurs instead of depending on alms.

The distribution programme was chaired by Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services, Khulna, Kaniz Mostafa. Representatives of local media, social organizations and non-governmental organizations were present on the occasion.