Around 6000 dear lives are feared to live in danger in Nijhum dwip
By Zeba Tarunnum
Around 6000 dear lives are feared to be in danger in Nijhum Dwip (iland) due to the recent Cyclone Yaas , one of the islands at Hatiya Island of Noakhali District in Bangladesh. The Nijhum Dwip Union of Hatiya Upazila has been flooded due to the cyclonic surge of Yaas. As a result, as there is no high land in the National Park of Noakhali’s Nijhum Dwip, because of that the lives of around 6,000 deer in the National park are now in danger.
SM Saifur Rahman, local forest Range Officer at Nijhum Dwip Forest Department, said, in 2001, the vast Nijhum Dwip of Noakhali’s Hatiya Upazila and 10 chars in Jahajmara Union were declared as a national park.
Its area is about 40,390 square kilometers. To provide pure water to 6,000 deer, four large ponds were dug a long time ago in the Nijhum Dwip forest. During the winter season, deer herds used to take shelter in the edge of these ponds.
He added, as the re-excavation of these ponds has not been done for a long time, the edge of the ponds has almost become flat. As a result, due to the impact of cyclone ‘Yaas’, the edges of the pond have been submerged in tidal water, for taking shelter the deer’s herb is rushing to different chars and localities.
If the pure water ponds are dug to raise the edge of the ponds on an emergency basis, the bear and all other wildlife can be saved from future floodwaters.
Md. Dinaj Uddin, Government’s Party’s Local committee’s Secretary, said, there is no so high place that during cyclonic surge deer can shelter on it. So, most of the deer have to take shelter in the branch of the tree keeping their face up.
Therefore, it is very important to build high places and provide clean water to save the deer of Nijhum Dwip during the tidal or cyclonic surge.
Mehraj Uddin, chairman of Nijhum Dwip Union Parishad, said, there are no flood control dams in Nijhum Dwip Union. As a result, as soon as the tide rises in the river, 60,000 families in Nijhum Dwip Union adjacent to the Meghna River, are affected by the tidal surges.
Along with that deer and other animals of Nijhum Dwip also floated in the water. Which is very harmful to the environment. It is very important to build a protected embankment around the Nijhum Dwip Union area to save the peoples along with deer and other animals. In addition, high earthen forts need to be built in deer habitats.
The deer’s habitat has been submerged as 7-8 feet high cyclonic surge water due to cyclone Yaas. There are plans to develop national parks and undertake eco-friendly tourism projects. It is also important to dig ponds for fresh water for deer. The projects will play an effective role in protecting the deer and biodiversity of Nijhum Dwip.
Ref: Green Page Bengali Version
