Saifullah Hasan, Moulvibazar
It is a natural air conditioner in a miles long field without any houses or shelter beside the Hakaluji Haor in Amtoil area under Juri upazila of Moulvi Bazar. After a hard toil under the blazing sun for hours in the farm lands, farmers take rest under the massive banyan tree spread with its branches and leaves at the middle of the field.
The 'humantarian' banyan tree not only gives shelter, shadow and calm for the toiling farmers but it is also a great source of pleasure for domestic animals like cattle heads, goats, sheep and the birds. During the scorching heat of the blazing sun, they take shelter under this huge tree.
According to sources, local Union Parishad member Karunamoy Das had planted the banyan tree. During work in the fields under hot sunshine, the farmers of the area got no shelter to take rest and to take their mid-day meal. Thinking to give those toiling farmers rest with calm, the UP member decided to plant the banyan tree some 12-year ago. Now, more than 200 people along with their cattle heads take rest under the tree every day during their interval at noon.
Abdul Hannan, a farmer of the locality informed, they thresh paddy and take rest under this banyan tress. Specially, during this month of fasting, they feel the place under this tree like that of a divine gift when nearly 200 farmers gather here to take rest and gossip. There is no other shelter nearby the vast field except this banyan tree, he added.
Another farmer Fazlu Mia said, when we sit under this banyan tree after our day's toil at noon, we feel the touch of a pleasing cool under a natural air conditioner. Within five minutes after taking rest, we fall into sleep. We all take care of the tree so that people in future could also take rest under this tree.
UP member Karunamoy Das said the Banyan tree also yield wood. The tree is surrounded on 15-decimal of land. He planted this tree in 2010 on 21 decimal of land. 'We take care of the tree and we have encircled the foot of the tree with soil so that the tree survives during the storm and flood. A large number of people take shelter under the tree every day. Specially during the Boro season, farmers take rest and work under the tree. Even during the monsoon and lightning, farmers take shelter under the tree. Two year ago, a tubewell has been commissioned under the tree to supply drinking water for the people taking shelter here'.
Local Environment Activist Khorshed Alam termed the initiative of the local UP member praisworthy for preservation of natural balance and conservation of nature. He said, he respects the initiative and said, others should follow such laudable example.
He also said, due to absence of trees, global temperature is increasing and Bangladesh is being the victim of such rise of temperature. He called upon every person to come forward to save this world by planting and rearing more trees.
