In a novel initiative to save trees at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan ground – the venue for historic rallies linked to Bangladesh’s Liberation War - environmental activists put placards with the names of freedom fighters on the trees.

Three environmental organizations -- Green Voice, Green Savers, and Nongor Bangladesh -- jointly started the activities to save the trees on the ground, which is a national memorial, The Daily Star reported.

The move followed the felling of some trees on the ground by the public works department for implementing a mega project.

Nongor Bangladesh President Sumon Shams said they put placards on trees with names of 50 freedom fighters, including seven Bir Shreshthas – highest military award given to seven freedom fighters who had embraced martyrdom.

 Each tree has been named after one of the heroic freedom fighters, he said.

On Wednesday, the Liberation War Affairs ministry in a statement claimed that there was a misunderstanding among people due to different media reports that published partial news regarding the project implementation.

It, however, admitted that some trees were felled at the Suhrawardy Udyan as part of the implementation. But at the same time, around 1,000 new trees will be planted there.

It was at the Suhrawardy Udyan, then called Ramna Race Course, that Bangladesh founder Mujibur Rahman had delivered his historic speech on March 7, 1971, virtually declaring independence from Pakistan.

The ground was also the site of the surrender of the Pakistani army on December 16, 1971, led to the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation.