Dhaka, a city grappling with extreme heat and rapid urbanisation, once saw a glimmer of hope through its ambitious tree planting initiative led by the newly appointed chief heat officer, Bushra Afrin.
The promise was bold: Al least two lakh trees to combat the rising temperatures and improve the city’s green cover. However, the vision quickly faded after political upheaval that toppled the leadership that had championed the cause. The trees, once planted with promise, disappeared, and the initiative stalled.
Yet, as the dust settles from the political changes, new authorities in Dhaka are offering a fresh path forward. With renewed assurances and innovative projects, such as the Zero Soil and Miyawaki greening initiatives, the city is now looking to restore its green aspirations.
But the question remains—can these new plans overcome the setbacks of the past and deliver on the long-promised greener, cooler Dhaka, or will the cycle of unfulfilled promises continue?
On June 6, 2023, Bushra Afrin, the then newly appointed chief heat officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), planted a symbolic tree on Mayor Anisul Haque Road in Tejgaon.
The ceremony, attended by her father—then mayor Atiqul Islam—marked the beginning of an ambitious initiative aimed at combating Dhaka’s soaring temperatures. The plan, driven by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center in collaboration with DNCC, included the planting of two lakh trees across the city.
This was part of a global mission to protect one billion people from extreme heat by 2030, with Dhaka as one of the key focus areas. However, barely a year later, both Afrin and her father’s political career came to an abrupt halt following the mass uprising that saw the downfall of the Awami League government.
With the sudden loss of leadership, the chief heat officer’s position has been left vacant, and the much-touted tree planting initiative has ground to a halt.
A vanishing green vision
The ambitious tree-planting project, which had begun in various parts of the city, including areas like Shagufta Housing in Mirpur and the Korail slum in Gulshan, has seen its progress reversed. Reports confirm that the saplings, which numbered over 5,000 in certain localities, are no longer there.
Officials within DNCC have acknowledged that a lack of proper oversight led to the failure of the initiative.
An official from the Environment, Climate and Disaster Management Department of DNCC, explained, “Initial monitoring was in place, but as time went on, the process stopped. Locals began removing the trees to use the land for construction.”
The lack of long-term care and supervision contributed significantly to the project’s downfall, leaving the once-promising green spaces in ruins.
The disappearance of the trees coincides with the political upheaval that led to the imprisonment of former mayor Atiqul Islam and the end of his daughter’s tenure as chief heat officer.
The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation—the international body that set the project in motion—has yet to provide any official explanation for the failure to sustain the initiative. Attempts to reach the foundation for comment have gone unanswered.
The tree planting was just one part of a broader strategy to mitigate Dhaka’s increasing urban heat island effect, a phenomenon where urban areas become significantly hotter than their rural surroundings due to human activities and infrastructure.
However, with the abrupt discontinuation of the project and the failure to follow through on promises, the city is left to grapple with the consequences of its unfulfilled green aspirations.
Looking ahead: New green plans and old challenges
Despite the setback, DNCC officials remain committed to Dhaka’s long-term greening efforts, focusing on the ‘Zero Soil’ project.
This initiative aims to plant trees and cover roads and footpaths with grass, improving air quality, reducing pollution, and helping to regulate the city’s micro-climate. So far, DNCC has completed greening 32.3 kilometres of road dividers and footpaths across 35 major roads.
Additionally, the DNCC is focusing on the implementation of the ‘Uttoron’ project, a new urban greening effort designed to offset rapid urbanization and pollution. The project will be implemented using the Miyawaki method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki.
This technique focuses on fast-growing, self-sustaining forests with high biodiversity, and it has already been tested successfully in other parts of Dhaka.
The first large-scale Miyawaki afforestation project in the country will be established in Uttara, spanning 3.2 acres of land, with 53,500 trees of 250 indigenous species set to be planted. Already, 14,000 trees have been planted, with the remainder of the project set to be completed by June.
“Through initiatives like Miyawaki, we’re creating spaces where people can reconnect with nature,” explained Arham Ul Haque Chowdhury, an expert involved in the project.
The hope is that the project will not only improve the city’s air quality and environment but also provide residents with a space to improve their mental and physical well-being through the concept of ‘forest bathing’ or ‘Shinrin Yoku’—a Japanese practice aimed at reducing stress and enhancing health by immersing oneself in nature.
While DNCC is pushing forward with new initiatives, the memory of the failed tree planting project still lingers. The question remains: will Dhaka be able to overcome its challenges of rapid urbanization and limited green space to create a city that thrives in both environmental and social terms?
