A forestation program has been launched in Khulna under the ‘bKash Forest’, which enables customers to contribute to real world tree planting by growing virtual trees through their digital transactions.
Khulna City Corporation and bKash jointly inaugurated the program by planting trees at Solar Park and Linear Park in the city.
Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Nazrul Islam Monju, administrator of Khulna City Corporation, inaugurated the program at Solar Park.
Rajib Ahmed, chief executive officer of Khulna City Corporation; Imran Ahmed, conservator of Forests, Khulna Circle; Humayun Kabir, EVP and head of the regulatory & corporate affairs department at bKash; and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Under the program, a total of 25,000 trees will be planted across Khulna.
Speaking as chief guest, Shaikh Faridul Islam said: “Under this joint forestation program with bKash, trees will be planted and maintained in Khulna. They are also giving due importance to selecting suitable tree species for each location and ensuring their proper care.”
Referring to the government’s plan to plant trees across the country, he added: “The ministry is working to encourage individuals and organizations to undertake tree plantation initiatives alongside the government.”
Noting that Khulna and the entire southern region of the country remain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Nazrul Islam Monju said the government has undertaken tree plantation programs across the country, including in coastal areas, to address environmental risks.
“The Sundarbans not only sustain our lives by providing oxygen but also protect lives and property from disasters such as cyclones and storm surges. We must therefore develop a green belt across the coastal region,” he said.
Thanking bKash on behalf of the people of Khulna for participating in the forestation program, he expressed hope that the initiative would encourage many other organizations to contribute the environmental protection.
This is the first time that a mobile financial app-based initiative for ecological protection has been introduced in the country.
Every time a user takes a low-carbon action, such as using paying utility bills, opening DPS, adding money, availing loan, recharging mobile or sending money through bKash app, will earn points called “green points.”
As users accumulate green points, a virtual sapling gradually grows into a tree within their bKash Forest in bKash app.
Once the required number of points has been earned and the virtual tree reaches maturity, bKash plants a corresponding tree in the real world. Users can subsequently view updates about the real tree through the app.
In this way, the ‘bKash Forest’ initiative will enable users to make a tangible contribution to the environment through their everyday digital transactions.