Living Green: Our Shared Responsibility

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

A healthy environment is one of the most essential parts of our lives. As human civilization grows more modern, greenery is disappearing under the pressure of concrete. Yet, without nature, human existence is unimaginable. If we look at developed countries, we can see how much importance they give to the environment. While constructing houses, they usually leave open spaces around the building. These areas are then used for planting vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees. This not only beautifies the surroundings but also helps maintain good health. Children get safe places to play, and the elderly find areas to walk and relax.

Sadly, the situation in Bangladesh is quite different. Most people here do not think much about the environment. Wherever they find empty land, they immediately build houses or buildings without considering open space or greenery. As a result, cities are becoming unlivable, filled with traffic jams, dust, noise pollution, and extreme heat. If we had been a little more conscious and kept the environment in mind while building houses, many of these problems could have been avoided.

However, in government colonies or official residences, we still find some importance given to the environment. The houses there are usually built with gaps between them, and plenty of trees are planted around. Recently, I visited the Upazila Parishad area near my residence. I was truly impressed by the environment there. Clean roads, tall trees on both sides, fresh air, and enough open spaces for children to walk and play—it felt peaceful and refreshing.

It makes me wonder, how wonderful it would be if all our neighborhoods were like this! If every family planted at least one tree in front of their home, or started a rooftop garden, the cities would look completely different. Not only would the environment be cleaner, but families would also enjoy fresh air and home-grown food.

Here are some simple steps we can take to live a more eco-friendly life:

Make tree planting a habit: Every family member can plant at least one tree each year.

Create rooftop gardens: In cities where open space is limited, rooftops can be used to grow vegetables or flowers.

Reduce plastic waste: Use reusable products instead of unnecessary plastic items.

Maintain cleanliness: Dispose of waste properly instead of throwing it on streets.

Save water and electricity: Conserving resources helps maintain environmental balance.

In conclusion, there is no alternative to protecting the environment if we want to live a healthy life. The practice of eco-friendly urban planning in developed countries should inspire us. If we all come together and make conscious efforts, our country can also become a place with a clean, green, and healthy environment. For the sake of our children, let us leave behind a greener Bangladesh.