With the felling of the huge Arjun tree from inside the premises of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, more than 100 nearly-matured chick of Asian Openbill bird which is also locally known as Shamuk Khol were killed. If the tree was felled just two-week later, the chicks would turn fully mature to take their first flight.
Locals said that the Arjun tree felled on Saturday afternoon. With the felling of the tree, all the chicks of Asian Openbill birds fell on the ground from their nests and most of those died. Hospital staff and the relatives of the patients, however, slaughtered some of the live chicks and took those to their houses for cooking.
Hospital employees said that on the branches of large Arjun, Mahogany and Mango trees, hundreds of Asian Openbill birds make their nests, lay eggs and breed chicks every year for a long time. These Asian Openbill birds are mainly seen to make their nests near the presence of human beings and thus developing a sympathetic, friendly relation with human. Authorities of RMCH, however, failed to cut the trees due to resistance from the members of birds and nature lovers organisations of Rajshahi. But, in absence of any member of the organisation, the labourers were employed to cut the trees in the afternoon.
Eyewitness sources said that the works of construction of a drain in front of the hospital is continuing and the tree has been cut from there in order to construct the drain. Even before the evening, 20 to 30 dead chicks were seen to spread around the ground where the tree was felled.
Inam Al Haque, Founder of Birds Club in Rajshahi informed, those chicks would grow adult within next two weeks and would be able to fly elsewhere. But, those were not given the chance to live.
Director of RMCH Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani said that he would investigate into the incident of felling the tree and killing of so large number of baby birds. He also said, he would take necessary measure so that there is no repetition of such incident again.
