Bangladesh Church, NGO to encourage eco-friendly villages in parishes

Bangladesh’s Presentation of Our Lord Catholic Church and World Vision Goadagari area program (AP) started ‘Eco-Friendly’ village at Sunadrpur Mission School in Rajshahi diocese with the Village Development Committee on January 12.  

“Our Catholic parish has a new vision for the good of the environment. So, now we started tree plantation for every Catholic village, especially for our tribal people,” said Father Liton Costa, Assistant Parish Priest of Sursunipara Catholic Church, who presided over the launch ceremony.

The priest urged to be caring towards children and nature. “Children are the future. We plant trees and take care of them to have fruit in the future. We take care of the children in the hope of getting the fruit of them. Trees and children are great gifts of nature. Humans can be hostile to people, but trees can never be hostile to us.”

The chief guest Md. Omor Faruk Chowdhury, Member of Parliament (Tanore & Goadagari-1), encouraged everyone to plant more trees because planting trees save mother-Earth.

“Where there is less education, where there is poverty, plant trees. Trees will give you the security of life,” Md. Omor Faruk said.

The elected government official urged people, especially farmers, to restore natural resources for future generations.

MP Md. Omor Faruk invited people to cultivate a habit of saving.

“Save three takas. If you use less rice and pulses of three takas (Bangladesh’s basic monetary unit like a US cent or Indian paisa), nothing will happen in your life. But you will lose more if you do not develop the habit of saving,” he said.

MP Omor Faruk said that saving would give you security in your family life. “These savings are your partner in danger; these savings are your shield. These savings will protect your child.”

“So my point is, no matter how little you earn, you have to save a certain amount every day and I humbly request you to save every day,” advised the government official.

MP Omor Faruk distributed 520 saplings among 520 vulnerable households addressing the wellbeing of 1040 children. The member of parliament committed to giving 4000 fruit tree saplings to vulnerable families through Tanore and Goadagri AP in the future.

“Planting trees will reduce the storm. Let us plant more trees for saving both the environment and the country,” said Sebastian Purification, Senior Manager of Rajshahi ACO, World Vision Bangladesh.

Sebastian Purification acknowledged that the air temperature and sea levels are rising as deforestation increases.

“The tree is our real friend. There is no other alternative like the trees to absorb carbon dioxide and generate oxygen,” he said.

Sebastian Purification motivates people to take initiatives for homestead vegetable gardening and tree plantation for getting fruit, wood, and medicine for their children and their family members.

Special guests present for the event were Md. Waz Uddin Biswas, Honorable Mayor of Goadagari Municipality and Md. Kollol Hossain Mollah, Ward Counselor of Goadagari Municipality.  

Meritorious students were appreciated during the event and  Child Forum presented a cultural program on the occasion.