New coastal islands to get green

The authorities have taken a massive afforestation project for protection and beautification of the newly emerged islands in the coastal areas of 67 upazilas in nine districts under Barisal and Chittagong divisions.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on January 2 approved a special Tk 104.80-crore project for creating mangrove forests in these islands, said Ajit Kumar Rudhro, Patuakhali divisional forest officer (DFO).

“Under this four-year project, we will arrange afforestation in all newly emerged islands in the coastal areas. Necessary steps will be taken in this regard after discussion in district afforestation committees headed by deputy commissioners concerned,” he added.

The main objective of the project is to make all newly emerged islands sustainable and create more greenery in the coastal belt, he said.

The islands under the projects include a recently emerged island covering around 2,000 acres of land, about 30 kilometres to the south of Kuakata sea beach.

On January 2, Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Dr Md Masumur Rahman with some officials, journalists, tourists and businessmen visited the newly emerged island about 30 kilometres to the south of Kuakata.

He hung a signboard there, announcing Bangladesh government's ownership of the island.

Earlier on December 20, some 280 people led by Kuakata municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Mollah went to the island by four trawlers from Kuakata beach.

Naming the beautiful island 'Char Bijoy', the mayor said, “The eye soothing place bears bright prospect for development as an attractive tourist spot for people from home and abroad.”

The visitors planted around 500 mangrove saplings including those of sundari and gol trees on the island.

The Daily Star on December 27 published a report titled 'A scenic new island in Bay'.

The new island has already started attracting visitors as the 2,000-acre area, teeming with red crabs and seagulls, gives a picturesque look.