Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu on Friday (October 17) evening inspected the remarkable transformation of Bashbari Colony in Mymensingh city, where a once-garbage-strewn lane has been converted into a vibrant vertical garden through a youth-led civic initiative. During his visit at around 6:00 PM in the city's Ward 13, the minister lauded the local residents for their innovative efforts and underscored the importance of replicating such grassroots environmental models across the country.
The minister's inspection follows a personal directive after Prime Minister forwarded him a photograph of the transformed colony. Expressing profound admiration for how residents beautified the narrow thoroughfare, the minister noted that keeping residential zones clean and green is vital for ecological improvement. He added that authorities would consult with relevant stakeholders to explore whether this community-driven model can be successfully implemented in other urban centers nationwide.
Highlighting the government's broader environmental agenda, the minister referenced the Prime Minister's ambitious 250-million tree-planting initiative. He revealed that while the initial target was set at 50 million saplings, the government now plans to scale up the objective, anticipating the plantation of 55 to 60 million trees this year alone. Special emphasis is being placed on planting fruit-bearing, forest, medicinal, and ornamental species suited to Bangladesh's unique soil composition and climate.
The transformation of Bashbari Colony began after the Mymensingh City Corporation repaired its dilapidated roads and drainage system in 2023. Seizing upon the improved infrastructure, four local youths—Murad Hasan Kanon, Mehedi Hasan Muhit, Saiful Islam, and Uttam Sarkar—conceived the plan to green the neighborhood. Following consultations with community members who offered enthusiastic support, the team spent just three months outfitting the walls along an 800-foot stretch of the road with discarded baskets, buckets, and mugs repurposed as planters.
The vertical gardens now feature a diverse array of flowering and foliage plants, including orchids and fragrant species that release the scent of night-blooming jasmine after dark. Signboards reading "These trees are not for sale" have been posted among the foliage to protect the greenery. Reflecting on the ministerial visit, organizer Murad Hasan remarked that the recognition serves as a tremendous source of inspiration for the community. The inspection was attended by Members of Parliament Abu Wahab Akand Wahid and Mohammad Zakir Hossain, City Corporation Administrator Md. Rukunozzaman Rokon, and Divisional Forest Officer Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, among other officials.
