A college student in Lalmonirhat has planted 35,000 saplings using money saved from his personal allowance, pursuing a goal of planting 100,000 trees to help combat climate change and protect the environment.
Naim Rahman, a second-year accounting student at Lalmonirhat Government College, has planted native, fruit-bearing and medicinal saplings across the district, from urban neighbourhoods to remote river islands along the Teesta.
Without institutional funding, he finances the initiative through savings from his family allowance.
Inspired by his efforts, local residents have also begun donating saplings.
Naim, the son of Zahedul Islam and Arifa Moni of Khedabag in Lalmonirhat municipality, also provides free lessons, health awareness activities and basic information technology training to disadvantaged children in Teesta river islands and cluster villages.
His involvement in environmental and social work began in 2016, when he joined Bangladesh Scouts as a secondary school student.
Witnessing the hardships of communities affected by natural disasters and river erosion along the Teesta and Dharla later inspired him to pursue environmental protection.
His plantation efforts focus on native and medicinal species, including neem, krishnachura, banyan, grapefruit, Indian gooseberry and arjun.
Naim’s mother, Arifa Akter Moni, said the family initially worried that his voluntary work would affect his studies.
“When we heard neighbours and people from the river islands praising his work, we realised how valuable it was. Now we are his biggest supporters,” she said.
Neighbour Abir Hossain Sajal said Naim had been involved in community welfare since childhood and regularly planted and cared for trees on unused land.
Naim said he wanted to protect the planet from rising temperatures and leave a safer environment for future generations.
“I have already planted and cared for 35,000 saplings. With structured support and encouragement from government or private organisations, this initiative could be expanded much further,” he said.
The district administration and Department of Environment have praised his initiative.
Bijon Kumar Roy, assistant director of the Department of Environment in Lalmonirhat, said voluntary environmental efforts by young people were important alongside government measures to tackle climate change.
He described Naim’s work as an inspiring example for other young people.
