Development cannot happen by destroying nature: Iqbal Habib
Architect Iqbal Habib said, development cannot happen by destroying nature. Cutting down every tree means taking away the right to breathe for future generations. Environmental and tree conservation should be given utmost importance in urban planning.
Iqbal Habib said this in a student-youth rally on the occasion of 'Natural Oxygen Protection Day-2026' in front of the National Press Club on Thursday. According to a press release, the rally was organized by the environmentalist youth organization Green Voice at 11:30 am.
Ruhin Hossain, the former general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) said in the rally that trees are not only the basis of the environment, but also one of the foundations of human survival. In the name of development, indiscriminate felling of trees should be stopped and tree plantation programs should be started in every educational institution.
Rustam Ali Khokon, member secretary of the Central Committee of the National Education Culture Movement, said that the youth should be more active in the environmental movement. The movement to protect the environment has now become a movement to protect life.
Mihir Biswas, Coordinator of Buriganga Bachao Andolan said, rivers, canals, reservoirs, trees—all are part of the same ecosystem. If they are not protected, the future Bangladesh will face a terrible disaster.
In the president's speech at the gathering, central co-coordinator of Green Voice Mohammad Humayun Kabir said that the main call of Natural Oxygen Protection Day is, 'Stop indiscriminate tree cutting, plant enough trees and take care of them all over the country'. Not only should trees be planted, they should be kept alive.
Central and departmental leaders of the organization including Tariqul Islam, Shakil Kabir, Fahmida Nazneen, co-coordinator of the central committee of Green Voice were also present as guests in the gathering. Co-coordinator Arifur Rahman presided over the rally.
Leaders of 18 units of Green Voice of Dhaka city gave a solidarity speech in the rally. Students from Green Voice's Dhaka University, Dhaka College, Government Teachers Training College, Government Titumir College, Tejgaon College, Asia Pacific University, Government Bangla College, Mohammadpur Central College, Eden Women's College, Habibullah Bahar University College, Begum Badrunnessa Government Women's College, Government Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Shaheed Suhrawardy College and Kavi Nazrul Government College branches participated in the rally.
At the end of the rally, the participants took out a procession and chanted various slogans to raise public awareness for the protection of the environment.
