SREEPUR, GAZIPUR, June 12: Dividers of 4-lane Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Sreepur Upazila part in the district has become a full-bloomed avenue of eye-catching flowers of about 40 species including medicinal also.
Brightly attractive flowers stretching the divider ranging from Gazipur's Joinabazar to Chandana Chowrasta are giving pleasure and secured driving services. Pedestrians, transport drivers and passengers are enjoying that wonderful beauty of the highway.
In this strong drought-hit summer, flowers of red, blue, brinjal and white are calling upon the rainy season to come. Beauty of Bakul flowers, Gandaraj, Beli and Kamini have made the divider and highway fully tantalised. Mixed smells of medicinal and mind-filling are spreading elsewhere, with drivers, passengers and pedestrians inhaling the most pleasant.
Several years back, the 87-kilometre-Dhaka-Mymensingh highway from Joydebpur-Mymensingh, the unique highway life-line of the country, was developed with 4-lane status. Over one lakh saplings of about 40 species were planted in dividers of the lanes.
These included Neelkanchan, Kamini, Krishnachhura, Jogatogor, Randhachhura, Agniswar, Polash, Gourichura, Chhatim, Kanakchanpa, Kadam, Kathbadam, Jarul and Roktakobori and many medicinal species.
A pedestrian Masud Rana said, "I am used to go to my office on this way. The road was filled with sand before. Now it is the flowery greeting. Flowers fill mind. But due to waste dumping, flower beautification is fading in some places."
A vehicle driver Shafiqul Islam said, "The road has become beautiful with good environment of trees. We feel good to drive on this road."
A local environment activist Sayed Chowdhury said, "In many places, trees got damaged, requiring replanting. We have combined responsibility to take care of trees. We hope all will come forward."
Executive Engineer of RHD-Gazipur Shariful Alam said, these flowery trees have been raised on the divider for beautification and diverting lights from headlights of vehicles coming from opposite direction for drivers' safety at night.
At present, commuting people are getting amused to see these bloomed trees, he added. But, he further said, few trees died. In the next rainy season, new saplings will be planted in these places, the official added.
The RHD official maintained, RHD labourers are regularly taking care of the trees.
