Emran Emon

Recently, various negative comments are being made on social media about Bushra Afreen, the first Chief Heat Officer (CHO) in Asia as well as the country. Sexually harassing comments are being made about her with her pictures from different times. Many people are calling her 'Kamdebi', 'Hot Officer', and other negative comments.

Where is the fault of Bushra Afreen? Being Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor's daughter, being a woman, being a beautiful lady? If Bushra Afreen had been replaced by a man named Abdul Quader—would she have been the victim of such an attack? Surely not. How sexually frustrated a class of people in this country is can be easily understood from such activities. How much our society is degradation of 'morals and taste' (Ruchir Durbhikkho). Civilization has not yet developed here, but barbarism is gaining influence.

Facebook warriors who do not know the least about Bushra Afreen's activities on the issue of environment, temperature and climate crisis, are also making negative comments about her. According to various sources, Bushra Afreen planted more than 5,000 trees in 15 slum areas of Dhaka North City Corporation in the last one year and trained the slum dwellers to care for and maintain the saplings.

Those places are densely populated and important, temporary cooling machines have been installed to give relief to the people from the intense heat. Which are periodically shifting to different places and sprinkling water. 'Heat Awareness Campaign' has been conducted to raise awareness in several slum areas and several campaigns are ongoing.

Where they are being trained on how to protect themselves and their families in extreme heat. Besides, she has finalized all the plans to make two green forests in the city, one in Kalyanpur another in Banani. Which will simultaneously provide cooling, prevent air pollution and improve soil quality. Besides, she is always representing the country in any national and international seminar and symposium on environment and climate.

Bushra Afreen alone can reduce temperature? We do not have any responsibility? The terrible pollution all around and the indiscriminate deforestation that has led to today's tragic situation—does anyone care about that? Is anyone working on the climate change crisis? Do we care about the fact that our city has become an unlivable city from being burdened with constant pollution?

We have now forgotten what to talk about and what to rant about. Due to which we are playing a silent role starting from environmental pollution to overall 'country-pollution'.

At present, the state and citizens must work together to get rid of the dire environmental and climate change crisis in Bangladesh. We have to deal with this crisis from each other's position without blaming each other. This activity has to be started from the very (Union Parishad) marginal stage. And for this, effective social and political commitments and actions must be needed. We have to remember that if the individual is aware, the society will be aware, and if the society is aware, the state is bound to be aware. And then it is possible to make the desired revolution.

The writer is a, Researcher, Journalist & Columnist