The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry has taken an initiative to plant trees along Dhaka's Airport Road as part of a beautification programme.
"The RHD will plant 5,50,000 saplings of different species along Airport Road. The project will be outsourced," said a press release.
The press release acknowledged the recent controversy over planting imported bonsai trees along the road. Minister Obaidul Quader has given instructions to cease planting the bonsai trees and instead plant regular saplings of various domestic species.
Also- In pictures: Imported bonsai Ficus trees adorn Airport Road
Minister Obaidul also instructed the authorities to consider the opinions of environmentalists. He said the projects are not funded by the government, according to the press release.
Earlier on May 17, an ad firm began planting bonsai ficus trees imported from China along Airport Road. The decision to plant bonsai trees, especially imported ones which cost Tk2lakh each, was highly criticised by citizens.