PM tells father's story about 'Zia Tree' at Arafat Maidan

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that there are now many neem trees at Arafat Maidan, where there were none 50 years ago. It is likely that in 1978, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, while performing Umrah, advised the then Saudi King to plant neem trees for the shade of the pilgrims and at that time, he sent about 100,000 neem tree saplings from the country. Now, the people of Saudi Arabia call those trees 'Zia Tree' instead of neem trees.

He said these things while inaugurating a tree plantation program in more than 29,000 educational institutions across the country by planting neem trees outside the China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon in the capital on Monday.

Noting that the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) had spoken about planting trees, the Prime Minister further said that the color green was the Prophet's favorite and he himself had planted many trees. Reminding the students that trees benefit people's lives in various ways, including the environment, he said, "As long as you live, plant a tree every year. When the tree grows a little, it will feel like your friend, and as the tree grows, you will also grow. When the tree grows alongside you, you will see that it will do a strange and good job."

Highlighting the need to plant at least one tree every monsoon season, Tarique Rahman said that students should be encouraged to plant trees. He commented that if the number of trees in the country increases, the environment will naturally cool down and it will also make people's living more comfortable.

The Prime Minister expressed concern that even though the monsoon season has already started, the rain is not falling in the proportion that it should have. He said, "When we were young, it used to rain continuously during this monsoon season. Now that rain is not happening. Trees are being cut down whether necessary or unnecessary. As a result, the natural balance is being destroyed. We have to live in this country. If I do not keep my house tidy, I will also live in an unhealthy environment. This will cause me mental and physical harm."