Locals inspired by man who planted 70,000 trees in just 38 years

In less than forty years, ASM Khalequzzaman Saju of Manikganj has planted nearly 70,000 trees turning his little village home into a veritable mini forest.

Popularly known as Shahjahan Biswas in his village under Harirampur upazila in the district, the man sowed saplings of mahogany, neem, palm and coconut trees anywhere he found an empty spot. Schools, colleges, mosques, graveyards and government roads have all received a green makeover, thanks to 62-year old Shahjahan Biswas.

Inspired by him, villagers of Kowri (Shahjahan’s village) also planted nearly ten lakh trees in and around their village.

Shahjahan started planting trees and preached about their importance after returning from Malaysia in 1979.

He was born in 1957 and passed his matriculation exam in 1973 and later went to Singapore in 1976. For a year and half in Singapore, he worked as a crew member on a ship and from there, went to Malaysia for another year and a half before returning home to start his little nursery.