World Migratory Bird Day observed in Rajshahi

World Migratory Bird Day was observed in Rajshahi today through a joint initiative of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Forum and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) to raise awareness about bird conservation and the protection of their habitats.

On the occasion, a discussion meeting was held at Rajshahi Adhunik Pathagar adjacent to Padma Garden, focusing on the importance of migratory birds, ensuring safe migration, preventing hunting and trafficking, and involving people in biodiversity conservation.

Engineer Junaid Ahmed, founder and general secretary of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Forum, presided over the meeting.

Jamat Khan, general secretary of Rajshahi Rokkha Sangram Parishad; Selina Begum, general secretary of BAPA Rajshahi District Committee and Mizanur Rahman, vice-president of the Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Federation, among others, were present.

Prof Dr B.K. Dam, president of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Forum; Shamsuzzoha Sarkar, general secretary of Dustha Manab Kallayan Sangstha and Rahima Begum and Yusuf Ali Chowdhury, president and general secretary of the BAPA Paba Upazila Branch, respectively, also spoke at the event.

The speakers highlighted the vital role of birds in maintaining ecological balance and protecting biodiversity. They said birds help maintain the food chain and food web, control rats and harmful insects, support crop production and contribute to flower pollination.

They also described birds as important biological indicators of environmental health and highlighted their aesthetic value, saying their presence enhances the beauty of nature and brings joy to visitors.

Emphasising the need to protect birds as an integral part of nature, the speakers called on people to consider bird conservation a collective moral responsibility.

They also urged people to build social resistance against bird hunting and take effective measures to protect migratory birds and their habitats.

Following the discussion, awareness leaflets were distributed along the Padma riverbank to encourage public participation in migratory bird conservation.