Trees including eucalyptus, shishu, acacia were uprooted from three sides of the graveyard and indigenous herbal trees and fruit bearing trees have replaced them. Experts however, said that sufficient new trees must replace the felled ones to ensure an environmentally friendly area.

Nurul Islam Nazem, associate professor, Urbanisation and Environment said trees like eucalyptus, shishu, acacia and a few others do not suit the Bangladeshi environment some of them hazardous and do not attract birds.

Public Works Department (PWD) planted the uprooted trees, which were imported, in the early 70s and the officials of PWD have now realised that the trees are not environment-friendly. The then available open space was named after president Ziaur Rahman who was buried there. The development work at a cost of Tk 35.17 crore was taken up in 2002 to beautify the graveyard

Rokon Uddin Ahmed, project director of the Zia graveyard said that removal of these trees was included in the initial project plan.

"The axed trees were densely populated and also created hazards to the environment in absorbing maximum amount of ground water, thus reducing the fertility of the soil. Now we are replacing the with environment friendly indigenous trees which will bring beauty to the area as well," Ahmed said.