Retired teacher plants over one thousand Gulmohar trees to promote environmental conservation in Tangail

Atikul Haque, a retired schoolteacher from Tangail, has dedicated his post-retirement life to environmental conservation, successfully planting over 1,000 royal poinciana, or krishnachura, saplings across multiple districts. Haque, affectionately known as Shamir Sir, has transformed his retirement from a period of inactivity into a mission to shade public spaces, schools, hospitals, and religious sites.

A resident of Borochowna village in the Sakhipur Upazila of Tangail, Haque retired in 2021 as an assistant teacher at Borochowna High School. Driven by a desire to contribute to society and nature using his own savings, he began his reforestation efforts immediately after leaving his professional post. His environmental footprint now spans the ten unions and one municipality of Sakhipur, extending into neighboring regions including the Parkhi and Nagbari unions of Kalihati, the Sagardighi and Dhalapara unions of Ghatail, and areas within Bhaluka Upazila in Mymensingh.

Haque views his work as a vital social contribution, rejecting the notion that retirement should be synonymous with idleness. He aims to make institutional environments greener and cooler, hoping that his efforts will inspire others to engage in similar environmental stewardship. He describes his ultimate ambition as witnessing his saplings mature into blossoming trees, providing shade and comfort to students and pedestrians long after he is gone.

The initiative has garnered widespread respect from the local community. Students, such as ninth-grader Afsara Safia Sauda, noted that Haque’s dedication serves as a profound inspiration for youth to value tree planting. Educators and local officials have also lauded his voluntary efforts. Md. Kamrul Hasan, headmaster of Mahanandapur Bijoy Smriti High School, commended Haque for his humanitarian work, while Sakhipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ashraful Alam described the retired teacher’s use of personal time and resources as an exemplary model for others to follow.

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Beyond his reforestation project, Haque maintains a long history of community engagement. He is an author, having published a poetry collection titled *Shyamlima* in 2008, and manages a personal library at his home containing approximately 1,000 books. Throughout his life, he has been an active sports enthusiast, serving as a referee for football, volleyball, and kabaddi, and played a foundational role in the establishment of Borochowna-Kutubpur Degree College in 1995.

Despite the visibility of his work, Haque maintains that his efforts are not for personal recognition. He continues to collaborate with local teachers and students during his planting sessions, seeking only to leave a lasting, positive impact on the landscape. As he reflects on his legacy, he remains focused on the future, noting that while he will eventually pass, the trees he planted will remain to serve the community for generations.