Razzak, an inspiring tree lover

A youth of Hatibandha upazila of the district has been planting trees to save the green world since his school life.

Abdur Razzak, 34, son of Nurul Haque, earns around Tk 8 thousand from private tuition, and spends around Tk 6 thousand for planting trees. He has planted 16 thousand trees on both sides of 12 roads at eight villages of Hatibandha upazila, and distributed 14 thousand plants to teachers and students at 25 educational institutions in the last 12 years.

Razzak said many fruit trees have started bearing fruit, and local people and passers-by are happy to get fruits from roadside trees. "I feel proud when local people greet me, recognising my voluntary work," he said.

Four years ago, Abdur Razzak did not have any money, but he was determined to distribute plants among the students of different educational institutions. He went Sonali Bank in Hatibandha and took a loan of Tk 32 thousand. But he has not been able to pay all the installments due to his meagre earning.

Razzak is the eldest of seven siblings. He obtained BA Degree from a local college in 2012, but he didn't try to get a job. He works with his father on their 8 bighas of cropland every day. He spends the morning and night giving private tuition.

Students and teachers of schools and colleges in Hatibandha call Razzak 'tree Razzak.'

Shamsunnahar Akhter, a student of HSC at Hatibandha Women's College, said students are being inspired by Razzak to plant trees.

Al Amin Khan, executive engineer of LGED in Lalmonirhat, said Razzak has planted many trees on both sides of LGED roads in the villages of Hatibandha upazila. "Trees save the environment, they also save roads in villages," he added.

Razzak said he feels hurt when anybody cuts green roadside trees. "Roadside tree fellers are enemies of human beings as they destroy the environment," he added.