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Birds begin to vanish in Hakaluki Haor


Published : 20 Feb 2022 08:46 PM

The number of birds is decreasing in recent years in Hakaluki, the largest haor in the country. From 2016 to 2021, the total number of birds has been gradually decreasing every year except 2020. This year's issue will be officially released later. But experienced bird watchers who took part in the census said the number of birds was clearly lower than before.

They cited various reasons, including the late start of the census and bird hunting.

For the first time, a two-day bird census was held in Hakaluki Haor on February 16 and 17 with government funding. Later, while talking to the reporter, the bird watchers and environmentalists who took part in the census informed about the number of birds and the situation in the haor.

The census was organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the local non-governmental organization Nature and Life Foundation in Hakaluki. Bangladesh Bird Club (BBC) was in collaboration. The census was conducted jointly by members of the three organizations, led by Inam Al Haq, a prominent bird watcher.

Hakaluki haor covers an area of about 28,000 hectares in Kulaura, Juri and Baralekha of Moulvibazar and Fenchuganj and Golapganj upazilas of Sylhet. On February 16, two groups of six members were divided into two groups and started counting 45 small and big beels in Haor. It lasts until the afternoon. Similarly, the census was conducted from morning to afternoon on 17 February.

Inam Al Haque, founder of Bangladesh Bird Club, who took part in the census, said that after completing the census, they gave information about the birds to IUCN. This is the first census conducted by a government initiative. Therefore, the issue of disclosure of information will go through the government system. Later, IUCN and the Forest Department will provide information on the number of birds.

Inam al-Haq said that during the census, far fewer birds were seen in the 45 beels of the haor than last year. During the last few years, some dead ducks were found in haors, canals and beels. Once again, a bird of the Chakhachakhi species was found dead in Nagoya Bay of Haor.

From 18 to 24 February 2015, rings were placed on the legs of 360 birds of 33 species at Hakaluki Haor. Earlier, in March 2010, 16 birds were fitted with satellite transmitters and 34 birds were fitted with rings. In response to the question whether the birds have been found this time, the members of the Bird Club said that not a single bird with a ring has been found this time. The 18 birds that were fitted with satellite transmitters in 2010 were monitored until 2011. No more traces have been found since then.

Hakaluki Haor was declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) by the government in 1999. However, the area has not become a real sanctuary for birds as no special initiative has been taken for its development or conservation of biodiversity. The number of guest birds is decreasing day by day as birds continue to hunt for bait and traps in unprotected haors.

Inam Al Haq points out some of the reasons for the decline in the number of birds. He said the water level in most of the haor beels has decreased a lot now. So the number of birds has also decreased. 

This time it is a little late to count. This time only birds with less water were seen. He added that in the just-concluded winter season, miscreants killed birds with bait in the haor. If the birds think their life is endangered somewhere, they no longer flock there. According to Inam al-Haq, in order to increase the number of birds, it is necessary to stop poisoning and other forms of hunting. Bird sanctuaries should be established and measures should be taken to preserve them.

Govinda Roy, director of the forest department’s Sufal project, said on his mobile phone, "IUCN was given the responsibility of conducting the census with government funding. Although the census has been completed in Hakaluki, the census is going on in other places. No reports received so far. After receiving the report, you will know about the number of birds. ‘

Meanwhile, a proposal has been sent from the Ministry of Environment and Climate to the Ramsar Secretariat in Switzerland to declare Hakaluki Haor, like Tanguar Haor, as a Ramsar site included in the international agreement, said Environment, Forest and Climate Affairs Minister Md. Minister Shahab Uddin said on his mobile phone, "No instructions have been received from Switzerland to announce the site of Ramsar yet. However, the matter is under process. Once the Ramsar site is recognized, various developmental works will be done to protect the environment and biodiversity of Hakaluki Haor. It will protect different species of fish and birds in the haor. ‘

According to the environment minister, 28 ponds, three beels and a rhyme will be dug in six unions of Baralekha-Juri in Hakaluki and in Kulaura part at the initiative of the ministry.