Jhenaidah: Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique on Friday said the country has close historical relation with banyan tree as the country's all democratic movements initiated from the Bat-tala of Dhaka University.

‘There was a banyan tree in the heart, now Aparajeyo Bangla, of Dhaka University. All movements of the country were initiated from under the tree. But Pakistani occupied force ruined the tree in 1971.

A banyan tree was again planted there in 1972. All sorts of programmes are held under this tree now in front of Arts Faculty building,’ he said.

The vice-chancellor made the remarks while visiting one of the biggest and oldest banyan trees in Asia at Mollikpur under Kaliganj upazila in the district.

As part of the campaign to create public awareness in conserving banyan trees organized by Bangladesh Botanical Society, Professor Arefin visited the banyan tree.

DU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Nasreen Ahmad, Bangladesh Botanical Society President Syed Hadiuzzaman, DU Biological Science Faculty Dean Professor M Imdadul Hoque, DU Botany Department Chairman Professor Mohammad Abul Bashar, Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Manowar Hossain Mollah and officer-in-charge of Kaliganj thana Anwar Hossain, among others, were present on the occasion.

Professor Arefin called for creating awareness on environment as existence of human beings will be disappeared without green nature.

Locals said the banyan tree at Mollikpara is about 250-300 year-old. Though the main tree died in course of time, its 45 different branches are alive. The tree is around 250-300 feet tall.