By Representative from Shyamnagar, Satkhira
Local communities in Munshiganj Union of Shyamnagar, Satkhira, planted 1,500 palm seeds along approximately 1.5 kilometres of road to help reduce lightning risks and protect the environment. They also planted around 13,000 seeds of neem, babla, date palm, ashphal, tamarind and mahogany.
The initiative was carried out recently along the road from Purba Kalinagar to Gaba and Kadamtala villages by local people from Purba Kalinagar, Bagpara and Gaba, with support from BARCIK. Around 60 women and men participated, including veteran teacher Birendra Nath Mondal, Community Clinic worker Sandhya Rani, and BARCIK staff Biswajit Mondal, Jannatul Naim and Chandana Rani.
Head teacher Gobinda Mondal said that salinity limits the range of trees that can survive in the area, so the community is selecting species suited to local conditions. He said that several people had died from lightning stri njkes in Gaba and Purba Kalinagar in recent years, motivating the community to plant palm trees.
Community Health Provider Sandhya Rani welcomed the initiative and emphasized that both local government and communities should share responsibility for protecting the planted trees. She also appreciated BARCIK’s support for the community-led environmental initiative.