There are very few places in the world, which have such a variety of winged life as the wetlands of Bangladesh. Hundreds of migratory bird species come to this country every winter. They make the wetlands their temporary homes. These seasonal visitors settle in ponds, canals and other marshy areas in search of more habitable conditions, seeking respite from extreme cold. However here, too, they are not entirely safe. Indiscriminate hunting, trapping and selling of local and migratory birds continue during winter, starting from mid-October to mid-March across the country.
To our great disappointment, we often witness that some people catch these birds and sell them in open market. Poachers set up traps in wetlands to catch migratory birds. Media reports have it that poachers are hunting and selling migratory birds unabated in many parts of the country including Barishal's Kuakata and Sylhet. This is posing a serious threat to our Nature and biodiversity. There is a law that prohibits killing wild animals and birds. As the law is not used effectively, this heinous practice of poaching migratory birds continues every winter, and does not look to cease in the near future. The authorities concerned must take steps to bring an end to the illegal poaching and encourage more birds to come to our land.
Shahjahan Sirazi,
Malibagh, Dhaka,
mshaju001@gmail.com