DHAKA: Social media influencers in Bangladesh are urging tens of millions of their followers to plant timber as a part of a marketing campaign to fight local weather change because the South Asian nation reels from the worst heatwave in a long time.
Bangladesh recorded excessive temperatures for many days in April, with the mercury climbing to over 43.8 C final week. Meteorologists say final month noticed the nation’s longest heatwave, prompting authorities to close faculties and encourage residents to remain indoors in the course of the day.
Scientists have mentioned local weather change is inflicting extra frequent, extreme and prolonged heatwaves in the course of the summer time months.
Within the capital, Dhaka, the place fast modifications have stripped the crowded metropolis of the timber, lakes and ponds that when supplied its residents reduction and shelter, social media influencers and college students have launched initiatives in a bid to create a extra livable atmosphere.
One of many calls got here from influencer Iftekhar Rafsan, who introduced a plan to plant one million timber to his 4.3 million followers on Fb on April 21.
“The temperatures on this nation at the moment are getting unbearably excessive. Then again, Dhaka is likely one of the worst cities on this planet when it comes to air pollution ranges … These two points mixed guided my concepts to plant timber. I care concerning the sustainability of this planet,” Rafsan advised Arab Information over the weekend.
The 26-year-old is assembly with metropolis officers to coordinate his initiative, which may also contain year-round monitoring and nursing to make sure sustainable development.
“We’ve got heard about international warming since childhood. Now, it has turn out to be a actuality … I’m going to place my finest effort into making this tree plantation marketing campaign successful. If everyone does it collectively, it’s going to be simpler,” he mentioned.
Since asserting his marketing campaign Rafsan, generally known as a meals vlogger in Bangladesh, mentioned he had obtained constructive suggestions from his followers.
“The youths amongst my followers appeared far more involved concerning the problem, and that makes me extra optimistic concerning the future. They care so much about what’s taking place round them,” he mentioned.
The our on-line world name to take care of the atmosphere was echoed by Peya Jannatul, a 32-year-old mannequin, actor and lawyer, who final month requested her 1.6 million Fb followers to begin planting 10 timber every.
“Many individuals do not know why this heatwave is going on. Via my plantation initiative, I need to improve consciousness among the many folks,” Jannatul mentioned.
“My intention is to work on mitigating the general influence of local weather change, and it will probably’t be carried out alone. The extra we are able to have interaction the folks with extra consciousness, it is going to yield even higher outcomes.”
She hopes to encourage her followers to begin gardening at dwelling and use their rooftops for planting, whereas additionally selling different environmentally pleasant concepts comparable to recycling.
Jannatul is hoping to make use of her platform to unfold extra consciousness in Bangladesh, which is extremely susceptible to the impacts of local weather change. Like Rafsan, her marketing campaign has been well-received by the net group.
“We don’t reside right here on this Earth just for ourselves. There are higher causes. The impacts of local weather change are severely impacting birds and animals too. To keep up the ecological steadiness, each creature on this earth is equally essential. So, it’s our duty to take care of a planet livable for all,” she mentioned.
Because the persistent and intense heatwave swept throughout Bangladesh, the Bangladesh College students’ League additionally launched a marketing campaign to plant 500,000 timber “to beat the continued extreme heatwave” within the nation, hoping to have interaction its membership of over 5 million.
Established in 1948, BSL is the oldest college students’ political group in Bangladesh and the scholar wing of the nation’s ruling get together Awami League.
BSL Vice President Khadimul Bashar Pleasure mentioned the marketing campaign was a part of a mega-project the group hoped would proceed within the years to come back.
“Since we face a world problem of local weather change, it’s our duty to behave on this regard as a acutely aware citizen,” Pleasure advised Arab Information.
“It’s our sacred responsibility to plant at the very least two to 3 saplings yearly to make this Earth livable for the subsequent technology. It’s not just for our nation, it’s for the entire world, for the folks on this planet.”
