Jahangirnagar University, June 14 (BDNEWS) – Many students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have been afflicted with allergy and asthma.
According to the students and teachers of the Department of Biology and Environmental Science and the doctors of Medical Centre, allergy and asthma are spreading due to the environment-unfriendly Acacia plant.
The plant was imported from Australia in 1980s known as 'Akashmoni' to beautify the campus with trees.
Experts said, Acacia collect water from the deep of the soil with its long root reducing moisture of the soil and damaging plants around. The leaves of the tree do not rot easily and besides the price of its wood is much lower.
Experts added, pollen of acacia flowers causes various kinds of allergies in human body while inhaling. It makes eyes red, causes cold, sneezing, eye itching, swells on different parts of the body.
Later, allergy transform into permanent asthma causing serious breathing problem.
JU authorities have had some acacia trees felled against the backdrop of allergy and asthma attack on the campus. Still there are some Akashmonis in front of the old arts faculty.
The authorities named the premise 'Akashmoni Chattar' after the name of the tree.
The students of the university have demanded the authorities to plant fruit and medicinal plants soon by removing acacia trees.
Botanist and JU treasurer Prof ABM Enayet Hossain said, the university has a plan to plant fruit and medicinal plants after removing acacia trees in phases.
However, He acknowledged that the number of allergy-affected persons in the university is on the rise.
BDNEWS/1431 hrs
