To make the International Environment Day 2024 commemorable, Department of Environment, Mymensingh Division planted 1,00,000 saplings in Mymensingh on 11 June 2024. As a part of this program Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverag- es, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and BURO Bangladesh, has embarked on a pioneering initiative to plant over 50,000 saplings in Mymensingh. This ambitious project, launched at the scenic Gabrakhali Garo Hills Tourism Center, underscores a strong commitment to combating climate change and promoting biodiversity.
Aligned with World Environment Day's recent theme of accelerating land restoration and enhancing drought resilience, this initiative seeks to bolster soil quality and mitigate land degradation across the region while developing the area as a tourism-friendly zone, enhancing its natural beauty and appeal to visitors. This approach to ecological conservation and tourism development is a holistic strategy for sustainable regional growth.
Inaugurating the ceremony, Didar-E-Alam Mohammad Maksud Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner and District Magis- trate, attended the event as Chief Guest. Other notable attendees included Dilruba Ahmed, Director (Deputy Secre- tary), Department of Environment, Mymensingh Division; Abdullah Al Mansur, Deputy Director (Senior Assistant Secre- tary), Department of Environment, Mymensingh Division; Md. Abedur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Haluaghat ; M Abdul Hannan, Director of Legal Affairs at Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages Limited; and Istaq Ahmed, Divisional Manager, BURO Bangladesh. Additionally, all officials of Department of Environment, Mymensingh along with Union Parishad (UP) Chairmen from Haluaghat Upazila, senior officials from various government offices of Haluaghat Upazila, Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages Limited and BURO Bangladesh were also present.
Commending the initiative, Dilruba Ahmed, Director, Department of Environment, stated: "This tree plantation program in partnership with Coca-Cola and BURO Bangladesh, will make it possible to prevent soil degradation and conserve biodiversity and ecosystems in the Gabrakhali Garo Hills Tourism Center area of Haluaghat Upazila.
The long-term benefits will be enjoyed not only by the inhabitants of this region but also by our future generations. This initiative will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and realizing the vision of a Smart Bangladesh by 2041". "This was a long journey of planting 1,00,000 saplings, there were many hurdles, challeng- es we faced but District Administration Mymensingh and Upazila Administration, Haluaghat helped us to make the impossible possible"- She stated. Dilruba Ahmed thanked Coca-Cola & Buro Bangladesh for their key contributions.
Anowarul Amin, Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at CocaCola Bangladesh Beverages, emphasized the urgency of environmental action: "Our country is already at risk due to the adverse effects of climate change. To overcome this situation, there is no alternative to expediting tree plantation initiative and raising environ- mental awareness among everyone."
This tri-partite collaboration between Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages, government agencies, and NGOs exempli- fies a robust model for corporate environmental responsibility and sustainable development in Bangladesh, while also promoting publicprivate partnerships in environmental stewardship & eco-tourism.
