Lost greenery of Bangladesh

BANGLADESH was once well known for its greenery, flora and fauna and century-old trees. Bangladesh - the land of world's largest mangrove forests, longest natural sea beach, unfortunately lost those plants and forests over time. Population explosion led to transformation of forests into residential accommodation.

The country has only 11.2 per cent of forest areas, according to the data of the Asian Development Bank, 2016. Dhaka has ranked second on a global list of cities with worst air pollution, which claims 122,400 lives a year, according to the State of Global Air Report 2017. Bangladesh's capital Dhaka has again ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Dhaka scored 339 in the US Air Quality Index (AQI) at 10am on Friday, February 23, 2018. The air was classified as "very unhealthy."

Against this, backdrop, Bangladesh should take up tree plantation programme to save the country from natural disasters and increase its food production. The nation can follow its neighbour India in this regard, and try to put a record on Guinness world record book.

Ismot Jerin

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

[email protected]