“Our aim is to plant not just trees, but a culture of care.”

- says Md Mahamudul Hasan, founder of Save Earth Society.

From Training to Trees, Water to Welfare—A Movement Stemming from Humanity and Sustainability
One Bangladeshi organisation is demonstrating how significant change may come from the ground up at a time when social inequality and climate anxiety are plaguing much of the Global South. The objective of the vibrant Cumilla-based non-profit Save Earth Society is straightforward yet revolutionary: to stand with people and the planet—“মানুষের জন্য প্রকৃতির পাশে."

Save Earth Society is more than just an environmental NGO because of its comprehensive strategy that incorporates housing, water access, tree planting, and women's empowerment. There is a growing movement that sees the environment as closely linked to community well-being and future survival rather than as something distinct from humans.

Reforesting Hearts and Habitats: The Tree Plantation Program

Bangladesh is losing approximately 2,600 hectares of forest annually (World Bank, 2021). This ecological degradation accelerates floods, displaces rural communities, and jeopardises biodiversity. In response, Save Earth Society launched its Tree Plantation Programme—an initiative that combines climate mitigation with youth engagement and ecological restoration.

“Our aim is to plant not just trees, but a culture of care,” says Md Mahamudul Hasan, founder of Save Earth Society. “Every sapling planted is a step toward resilience—for the land and for the people.”

So far, the organisation has planted over 50,000 native trees in schoolyards, roadside areas, riverbanks, and rural homesteads. Many of these trees serve dual purposes—such as fruit-bearing plants for nutrition or timber alternatives for local use.

🚰 Safe Water, Safe Homes: Dignity in Basic Needs

In rural Bangladesh, nearly 56% of the population lacks access to safely managed drinking water (UNICEF, 2023). Waterborne diseases remain a persistent health hazard, especially in underserved communities. Compounding this issue is the lack of adequate housing, with millions living in tin-roof shacks vulnerable to heatwaves, floods, and storms.

To address these needs, Save Earth Society provides arsenic-free deep tube wells and builds safe, disaster-resilient homes for families in need.

One recent beneficiary, Ambia Khatun, a widow from Cumilla with ten children, shared:

“For years we lived under leaking roofs and drank water from ponds. Now, with a strong roof and clean water, I sleep in peace for the first time in years.”

Each well installation costs approximately $720 USD, and each basic home structure ranges between $1,000 and $1,500 USD. Through donor partnerships and volunteer mobilisation, Save Earth Society has already installed over 2,000 wells and built 30+ homes—transforming lives one foundation at a time.

🧵 Empowering Women: Skills for Survival and Success

Another cornerstone of Save Earth Society’s work is vocational training for women, a strategy that simultaneously fights poverty and enhances sustainability. Through sewing workshops, tailoring classes, and small business mentorship, the organisation has trained over 300 women across Cumilla.

“We believe real change happens when women have economic power,” says Fahmida Akhter, a project coordinator. “Vocational training is not just about stitching clothes—it’s about stitching together confidence, independence, and future dreams.”

These programmes are often linked to environmental goals as well—such as the production of reusable eco-bags under the “EcoCarry Bangladesh” initiative, which reduces reliance on plastic.

🎓 Education for Earth: Building Youth Leadership

In line with UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development goals, Save Earth Society collaborates with local schools to instill environmental awareness in children and adolescents. The organisation runs eco-clubs, arranges clean-up drives, and promotes tree-adoption schemes.

Young changemakers like Sumaiya, a 10-year-old from Shasongacha village, are rising through these programmes. Her goal: to plant 1,000 trees in her lifetime and help “carry the Earth on her shoulders”.

“We may be small,” Sumaiya says with a shy smile, “but even small people can make big forests.”

🔄 Integrating Sustainability with Faith and Tradition

What makes Save Earth Society’s model especially impactful is its rootedness in local values and faith-based ethics. The slogan “মানুষের জন্য প্রকৃতির পাশে” (By nature’s side, for the people) isn’t just branding—it’s a philosophy that resonates with Bangladesh’s deeply spiritual and community-orientated culture.

By linking tree planting to religious events and vocational drives to seasonal festivals, the organisation ensures both cultural continuity and sustainable behaviour change.

🗣️ Media, Advocacy & Outreach: Beyond Local, Toward Global

With the rise of digital platforms, Save Earth Society also uses media advocacy to reach broader audiences. Their work has been featured in local newspapers, and their “Beat Plastic” campaign on social media has inspired hundreds of youth to reject single-use plastics.

A report by LightCastle Partners (2022) shows that Bangladesh consumes 977,000 tons of plastic annually, of which only 31% is recycled. Campaigns like those run by Save Earth Society help combat this through grassroots behavior change and sustainable alternatives.

📈 Impact: From Action to Transformation

What distinguishes Save Earth Society is its commitment to monitoring impact. For every well installed or home built, they collect before-and-after stories, conduct beneficiary surveys, and maintain an open channel for community feedback. This ensures that the organization is not just delivering aid but building trust and accountability.

🛠️ Challenges and the Road Ahead

Like many grassroots initiatives, Save Earth Society faces resource constraints. Scaling their efforts requires increased donor support, policy backing, and media amplification. Yet, their track record and model offer a replicable framework for climate-smart, community-first development.

Plans for the future include:

• Expanding to five new districts by 2026
• Launching a youth climate leadership program
• Establishing a permanent training center for green livelihoods

🔚 A Society that Saves

In a time when the world grapples with the dual crises of environmental collapse and social inequity, Save Earth Society presents a beacon of hope. By planting trees, building homes, empowering women, and educating children, they are literally reconstructing the future—brick by brick, seed by seed, life by life.

As Md Mahamudul Hasan puts it:

“To save the Earth, we must first stand with the people who live on it.”

 References 
LightCastle Partners. (2022). Bangladesh Plastic Industry – Towards Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.lightcastlebd.com

UNESCO. (2020). Education for Sustainable Development: A Roadmap. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. https://unesdoc.unesco.org

UNICEF. (2023). WASH Program Overview – Bangladesh. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh

World Bank. (2021). Deforestation in Bangladesh: Urgency of Forest Protection. https://documents.worldbank.org