Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has faced criticism from environmentalists after cutting down several hundred trees, including Banyan, Nim, Plum, and other varieties, along the median of Saat Masjid Road.

In what appears to be an attempt to 'compensate' for the loss, DSCC has now started planting saplings of flower trees in the same spot.

According to a press release issued by DSCC yesterday, the flower trees being planted include Rangan, Kamini, Bagan Bilash, Chandraprova, and Kanchan.

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However, environmentalists have strongly condemned this move, describing the felling of large trees and their replacement with flower trees as a tragic waste of public money that lacks any logical justification. Flower trees are not an adequate substitute for the ecological benefits provided by the felled giants, they said.

The press release from DSCC mentioned that the tree saplings are being planted with a distance of four to five feet between each sapling. So far, 650 saplings have been planted, it added.

The expenditure of Tk 10.40 lakh in planting the flower trees seems to be nothing more than a wasteful misuse of hard-earned public money.

— Syeda Rizwana Hasan Chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association

DSCC Project Director Md Khairul Baker said, "We have already begun planting flower tree saplings on the medians. We aim to plant a total of 1500 tree saplings on the median of Saat Masjid Road. We hope to complete our efforts to adorn the road dividers with flowering trees within the next two days."

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The entire project, including the cost of planting the saplings, soil, sand, cow dung, and fertiliser, is estimated to amount to Tk 10.40 lakh.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), voiced her concerns over felling hundreds of local, herbal, and fruit trees and replacing them with flower trees.

Pointing out DSCC's promise that more trees will be planted in place of the felled ones, she questioned whether planting 1,500 flower trees like Rangan and Bagan Bilas could truly be considered a tree plantation.

Rizwana emphasised the importance of considering factors such as heat absorption, air pollution reduction and the importance of seeking shade under large trees.

"The expenditure of Tk 10.40 lakh in planting the flower trees seems to be nothing more than a wasteful misuse of hard-earned public money," she said.