BSF plants 180,000 saplings along Pak, Bangladesh borders

Agartala: The Border Security Force (BSF) Tuesday planted under its `Green Mission` more than 180,000 saplings within half-an hour along the borders of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"This was part of our Green Mission to enter the Limca Book of Records by planting 180,000 saplings today. More than 10,500 BSF personnel planted trees in the border areas of Bangladesh and Pakistan within half an hour beginning at 10 am. It was a simultaneous programme throughout the country," Inspector General of BSF BN Sharma told reporters. Of the total 15,106 km of the country`s land border, Bangladesh shares 4,096 km and Pakistan shares 3,323 km and the rest with China. BSF also exchanged plants with the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) at the Agartala check post bordering Akhaura in the neighbouring country. BS Tolia, DIG, BSF handed over a tray of plants to the Commanding Officer of 12th Battalion of BGB, Salauddin Khaled as a mark of friendship and improved relation and it was reciprocated by BGB. "Our national plantation programme is also on in Bangladesh and we have also taken the same initiative of greening the border. We would also plant trees in our border outposts and other installations. We welcome BSF`s initiative under the campaign `My Earth My Duty`," Khaled said. The plantation drive was flagged off by BSF Director General D K Pathak in Delhi to help mend environmental degradation and maintain ecological balance, Sharma said. More than 21,000 trees were today planted in 245 border outposts in Tripura. At least 500 saplings were planted in the headquarters of all frontiers and the sectors and 50 in border outposts (BOPs) in the country simultaneously, he said. Similar mission had been undertaken in the name of `My Earth, My Duty` on the Independence Day in 2011 along the Indo-Bangla border and more than one crore saplings were planted, he said.