The programme started here in 2002-'03 fiscal. Moulvibazar Sadar, Rajnagar, Kulaura, Baralekha, Srimongal and Kamalgonj upazilas were brought under the project. Trees were planted on embankments, road sides and railway lines which covered 70-kilometre area.

The Department of Forest, beneficiaries, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and the Bangladesh Railway (BR) signed a contract for 10 years. Saplings were planted on roadside or embankment. Each kilometre area of planted saplings were handed over to interested persons who were regarded as beneficiaries of the project. The duty of a beneficiary was to take care and look after the saplings. On completion of project duration the beneficiaries would get 55 per cent money from sale proceeds of the trees. According to the tripartite contract, owner of the land such as BWDB, RHD or BR would get 20 per cent money, the Department of Forest would get 10 per cent, local union parishad would get five per cent and rest 10 per cent amount would be preserved for the next project. The project became very popular.

However, at present there is lack of coordination between the Department of Forest and the BWDB. As a result both the government organisations have not signed new contract this year. In this situation the beneficiaries have expressed their great concern over the situation.