Shakhawat's evergreen mission to rejuvenate nature

When Shakhawat Ullah arrives at an event, guests know exactly what his gift will be – a plant.

Whether it's a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or even a moment of grief, Shakhawat marks every occasion with the living gift of a sapling.

In his mid-thirties, Shakhawat's radiant smile, simple attire, and black-rimmed glasses reflect his unique way of celebrating both joy and sorrow – through his deep love for trees.

Once a young man approached him in search of a Lal Kadam (red burflower) plant, a species with white petals and a red centre, a rarity in Bangladesh.

"I realised the young man was in love," Shakhawat tells The Business Standard. "I searched high and low and finally found a sapling. It was quite an adventure."

When it comes to rare or endangered tree species, if Shakhawat hears about it, no matter how hard it is to find, it will mysteriously appear at your doorstep within days or weeks.

But where does the funding for distributing these free trees come from?

Shakhawat's acts of kindness are self-funded. With personal savings from his public relations job at a private company in Dhaka, he purchases and distributes saplings.

For Shakhawat, trees are a symbol of connection.

Over the past six years, he has planted more than 1.6 lakh trees, driven by the belief that planting is not just about numbers but about spreading love for nature.

"As long as I live, I will keep planting," he says, hoping to preserve endangered species and inspiring others to do the same.

Inspired by a legacy 

Shakhawat's journey with trees began with the memory of his late father, Maulana Kefayat Ullah, a teacher at Charbata Khaser Hat High School in Subarnachar upazila, Noakhali.

In 2017, Maulana Kefayat fought a brave battle against cancer but passed away the following year.

After his death, Shakhawat received countless visitors, each sharing stories of how he had planted a tree at nearly every home he visited. Many even spoke of enjoying the fruit from those trees.

"During one of his chemotherapy sessions, my father insisted on stopping at a nursery," Shakhawat recalls. "He wanted to buy Krishnachura (flame) and Sonalu (golden shower) trees to plant along a bridge near his school."

Moved by these memories, Shakhawat decided to honour his father's legacy. In 2018, he planted 100 Krishnachura trees in Subarnachar as a tribute to his father's enduring love for nature.

At the time, it was impossible to find Sonalu saplings in Noakhali. Known for its beauty and longevity – up to 83 years – Sonalu was a rare treasure.

After a thorough search, Shakhawat finally found the saplings at a nursery in Dhaka and spread the golden hues of the Sonalu flowers across Noakhali.

By 2019, during his Eid vacation, Shakhawat set out with the ambitious plan to plant 10,000 trees.

However, he quickly realised that such a large-scale initiative was not practical. He understood that while planting thousands of trees might be possible, sustaining them would be far more challenging. By the end of the year, he had successfully planted only around 120-125 trees.

Shakhawat understood the significance of nurturing each tree to maturity.

A blessing in disguise

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic gave Shakhawat the opportunity to focus more on his plants while working from home.

In July, he found an affordable nursery in Chattogram and rented a truck to transport 5,000 saplings.

However, on the return journey, a tragic accident left the driver severely injured and Shakhawat with serious leg injuries.

After three months of treatment and surgeries, Shakhawat recovered but often needs a cane to walk.

Despite now being unable to plant trees himself, his passion only grew stronger. He formed a volunteer group of young tree enthusiasts to carry out his vision.

In the river erosion-prone areas of Noakhali, Shakhawat and his team have planted Arjun trees and promoted the cultivation of medicinal, ancient and eco-friendly species.

Shakhawat's tree-planting initiatives now reach at least 35 districts across the country. Along with his volunteers, he travels to various areas, gifting saplings to local residents.

He also directs them to affordable nurseries where they can obtain more saplings.

"It's possible because my job requires me to travel across the country, and I make the most of my days off," says Shakhawat.

Green with literature 

"My volunteers and I are collecting the names of trees mentioned in the poems and novels of Bangali poets and writers. Our goal is to track down these species and plant them. In doing so, we hope to rediscover many lost trees and ensure they never disappear again," Shakhawat tells TBS.

Trees like the Hijol, mentioned in Jibanananda Das' poetry, and the Gandhabhejal vine, referenced in Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's novels, are part of this effort.

Similarly, mention of the Mahua tree in literature often evokes images of beautiful women, but the tree itself, with its distinctive blossoms, is largely forgotten by many.

Plans are also underway to plant the trees mentioned in the works of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on the campus of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul University, he says.