Environment activist Zaher Raihan has launched an initiative to protect farmers from lightning strikes by planting palm seeds along rural roads in Jhenaidah. He has already planted at least 8,000 palm seeds in different areas of the district over the past several years.
Raihan, a resident of Ramnagar village in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila, said he took the initiative after learning about the role of palm trees in reducing lightning risks. A national award-winning environmentalist, he has been planting palm and date palm saplings for nearly two decades using his own money without any government support.
A professional painter, Raihan spends part of his income on planting trees along roads and in open spaces. On 9 September, he planted palm seeds along a three-kilometre stretch of road in Chandipur-Bearashula area under Ganna Union of Jhenaidah Sadar.
Local people involved with the initiative said at least 12 people, mostly farmers, have died from lightning strikes in Jhenaidah over the past six months. Farmers working in open fields are particularly vulnerable during storms.
Raihan said he started collecting palm seeds from villages and planting them along rural roads after considering the repeated deaths of farmers from lightning strikes.
“Jhenaidah is a lightning-prone area. On average, 20 to 25 farmers die every year due to lightning strikes. I decided to plant palm seeds on both sides of rural roads to reduce the risk,” he said.
“So far, I have planted around 8,000 palm seeds along nearly 10 kilometres of roads with the help of young volunteers,” he added.
During the latest plantation drive, local youths, teenagers and elderly residents joined Raihan. Some measured planting distances while others dug holes with spades before he planted the seeds himself.
Raihan’s colleagues, teachers, social workers and volunteers have also been supporting the initiative.
Local resident Ekramul Kabir praised Raihan’s effort, saying such initiatives were rare at a time when trees were being cut down on a large scale.
“His work is a great example of how individuals can contribute to tackling climate change and creating a greener environment,” he said.
Social worker Nahid Hossain said the palm trees would eventually provide shade and produce fruit and sap, while also helping protect farmers working in fields from lightning strikes.
Raihan said his only goal was to prevent further deaths of farmers from lightning.
“Farmers are the backbone of our economy. If farmers remain safe and healthy, the country will progress,” he said.
