Give us a green patch

The writer has put forward his suggestions in a very appropriate time when the present regime is undertaking special care for widening and beautifying the VIP Road leading to Zia International Airport, considered to be the gateway to Dhaka. On both sides of the Airport Road, starting from the turning of Kamal Ataturk Road (Kakoly) and ending at the Cantonment Staff Road railway crossing, one can find a long stretch of fellow low land and ditches, which may be turned into road side park, nurseries, garden with pavement for morning and evening walkers of the adjacent areas like the cantonment, Banani, Gulshan and Baridhara etc.

In Egypt, while travelling from Cairo to Alexandria by road, I observed cultivation of various types of seasonal fruits on both sides of the road which were leased out to the member of the public for such purposes and also observed the same in the country side of the UK where road side cultivation of seasonal fruits like straw, grapes etc. are encouraged. 'Pick while you drive' sign boards are commonly seen in the countryside of the UK.

In Singapore and Malaysia, big business establishments and shops are encouraged to beautify roads adjacent to their business establishments with colorful trees, flower plants (particularly on tub ....).

A foreigner, whom I was accompanying from ZIA to the hotel in her maiden visit to Bangladesh, remarked, "We spend a lot of money and time for cultivating these sorts of colourful trees and plants which are commonly found growing on your roadside. Since we enjoy a gifted environment where nature is so beautiful, then why not we take some extra care to preserve it for our own benefit.