Human chain and leaflet distribution to prevent bird killing and a call to socially resist bird hunters
Bangladesh News: On February 7, 2025, a protest took place in Padma Char, Rajshahi, featuring a human chain and leaflet distribution against the poisoning and electrocution of birds. News Release.
The program was organized by the Nature & Biodiversity Conservation Forum (NBCF) at 10.30 am on the day at the “T-Groene” on the banks of the Padma River, built to prevent erosion in Rajshahi city and the adjacent Srirampur area.
Volunteers from environmental organizations in the Rajshahi zone participated in it. Awareness banners were displayed near the flood prevention dam in Rajshahi city to discourage bird hunting.
It is worth noting that with the arrival of winter, many guest birds come to the Padma char in Rajshahi. Along with this, there are many native birds. A group of unscrupulous people are killing/hunting these birds with poison baits and electric nets.
Later, they are supplied to various restaurants in Rajshahi City under the name of duck meat. Biodiversity is declining, and people are getting sick from bird flu and other diseases by eating the toxic meat of dead birds.
Even though the administration has given small fines and imprisonment to the culprits, these activities are not stopping. The program was organized in protest and with the aim of creating public awareness and public involvement.
Engineer Junaid Ahmed, founder and general secretary of the Nature & Biodiversity Conservation Forum, led the program. Attendees included organizing secretary Md. Fahad Iqbal, treasurer; Md. Ramzan Ali Sarkar, information and technology secretary; Md. Firoz Ali, and members AHM Asaduzzaman, Jayanta Kumar Sarkar, and Istiak Shahriar, along with other volunteers.
The program was presided over by the president of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Forum, Professor Dr. B.K. Damn. The program emphasized the role of birds in environmental balance and suggested ways for everyone to help preserve them.
The speakers emphasized that birds are vital for maintaining environmental balance by protecting the food chain and web. They help boost crop production by controlling pests like rats and serve as key indicators of environmental health.
The importance of birds in the pollination of flowers is immense. Birds play a leading role in the spread of plant seeds. The seeds of some trees (banana, palm, fig, etc.) easily germinate with the help of the digestive systems of birds. Birds (vultures, crows, eagles, etc.) act as nature’s sweepers; they keep the environment clean by eating dirt and garbage.
In addition, the aesthetic beauty of birds is immense, and their sight makes any visitor feel good. From all this, it can be understood that birds are a unique creation of nature. It is the moral responsibility of all of you to preserve them. Along with this, the program calls for social resistance to bird hunters.
Message Sender: Engr. Junaid Ahmed General Secretary of Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Forum.
