In a major environmental initiative, Chattogram City Corporation will plant one million tree saplings across its 41 wards to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and preserve the environment, announced Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain.
Speaking as the chief guest at a photo exhibition organized by the Chattogram Press Club on Tuesday, Mayor Shahadat highlighted the devastating impact of the 1991 cyclone ‘Meri-N’ that ravaged the coastal areas of Chattogram. The exhibition was held in memory of the tragic event, which claimed thousands of lives and left deep scars on the region.
“The 1991 cyclone remains a painful memory for many. It was one of the most catastrophic disasters to ever strike the coast of Bangladesh,” the mayor said in his speech.
Emphasizing the need for long-term environmental resilience, he added, “Sustainable embankments are essential for cyclone protection, but large-scale tree plantation is equally critical for maintaining ecological balance.”
As part of this mission, the Chattogram City Corporation will launch a ward-wise tree planting program across the city, Mayor Shahadat announced.
Recalling his personal experience during the 1991 cyclone, he shared, “Under the directive of then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, I provided medical services to affected coastal communities. I saw firsthand the devastating conditions—homes destroyed, people starving. That painful memory remains vivid.”
The photo exhibition, presided over by Press Club member secretary Zahidul Karim Kochi, also featured speeches from Chattogram Metropolitan Union of Journalists’ (CMUJ) President Mohammad Shahnawaz and General Secretary Saleh Noman.
The event showcased 50 rare photographs capturing the horror of the 1991 disaster. Photographer Shishir Barua, describing one of his most haunting images titled ‘Feast of the Crabs’, said, ‘I risked my life to capture the moment when a swarm of crabs devoured a corpse in just 45 minutes.’ He urged the government to preserve these historically significant photographs as part of the national archive.
