Shushilan's DCE Mr. Nasiruddin Faruk's Visit to Bhola and Feasibility Assessment for Mangrove Plantation in Char Mujibnagar, Charfasson.

Shushilan’s Honorable Deputy Chief Executive, Mr. Nasiruddin Faruk made a remarkable visit at Bhola. on 6th January, 2025, he met with the SBC Bhola Sadar team at Bhola Office and delivered a directive speech. On January 6-7, 2025 during a capacity-building training session for SBC project staff at Grameen Jano Unnayan Shongstha(GJUS), he oriented participants on nutrition, organizational policies, and field-level activities. On January 8, he led an eight-member team from the Bhola Sadar office to Mujibnagar Union in Charfashion Upazila. After crossing the Tetulia River in a 30-35-minute motorboat ride, the team engaged with local residents, the Union Parishad Secretary, and community leaders to gather insights on the local context, land ownership, and the feasibility of tree plantation. Key Activities and Insights 1. Site Visits: o Conducted a detailed assessment of Shikdar Char, located 7 kilometers from Mujibnagar, analyzing soil quality and land suitability for plantation. o Inspected a 15-kilometer stretch along the embankments and identified areas highly suitable for fruit-bearing tree plantations. o Explored Majher Char, which was preliminarily identified as an ideal location for mangrove plantation, particularly Keora trees, due to favorable conditions. 2. Community Engagement: Discussions with local residents and administrative leaders revealed that approximately 1,000 hectares of land could be utilized for afforestation. Most of this land falls under the jurisdiction of the Water Development Board. 3. Evacuation Tools Distribution: The DCE handed over evacuation tools provided by the donor organization WFP to the Secretary of Mujibnagar Union Parishad and shared insights on various disaster-related activities. 4. Visited Community Dialogue: He participated in a community dialogue with parent groups under the SBC-Bhola Project, exchanging views on child protection and nutrition. 5. Proposed Actions • Gather detailed information about the legal process for land acquisition. • Identify and assess other char areas in Bhola for afforestation potential. • Raise awareness among local residents and ensure their active participation. • Collaborate with local administration and relevant departments for successful implementation of afforestation initiatives. The proposed tree plantation initiative in Char Mujibnagar and adjacent areas can play a pivotal role in environmental conservation and carbon emission reduction. If implemented under Shushilan’s leadership, this project holds significant promise for enhancing biodiversity and improving the ecosystem of Bhola’s coastal regions.