Tanvir Islam, Moulvibazar
The Census of migratory, aquatic birds at the Baikka Beel has recently been completed. This year, only 3,230 migratory birds of 34 species were detected during this winter season. The number of migratory birds have decreased in compared to last year.
During the last year's census, some 11,500 migratory birds of 39 species were detected, renowned Ornithologist and founder of Bangladesh Birds' Club Inam Al Haque informed.
Of the 3,230 birds 900 were Gatewala-Batan, 452 Violet Kalem and 250 brown Kastechara, Among the wild geese, there were 7,332 Red-headed Bhutihas(Red crested Pochard) and 7,205 Morcherang Bhutihas (Ferruginous ducks). Inam Al Haque, Dr Paul Thompson, Tareque Anu of Bangladesh Birds' Club and Simanta Dipu and Jennifer Ajmeri of IUCN, Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, DFO Mijanur Rahman and ADC(rev) Mehedi Hasan participated the Census of Birds.
Participants at the Birds Census informed, migratory birds of five species have been decreased in the Baikka Beel during the last one year. They blamed the illegal construction of houses by fishermen beside the Beel for the decrease of the birds.
Borogangina Properties Management Committee is supervising and managing the 100-acre water body( Baikka Beel) since it was declared as a sanctuary for fish in 2003. Members of Borogangina Committee also blamed the construction of houses beside the Beel and free-movement of people through the Beel for the decrease of birds arrival.
But, the fishermen of the villages informed, they have been living beside the Beel for a long time. They would leave the place if the government takes step to rehabilitate them in other places.
Minnat Ali,Gen Secy of Borogangina Property Management Committee informed, there having no water-herbs like Water lily or water-bushes in the water of the Beel, migratory aquatic birds feel insecure to stay there. Moreover, the illegal houses erected by the fishermen beside the Beel is also causing disturbance in the movement of the birds.
Fisheries Officer of Moulvi Bazar Mijanur Rahman informed the department has taken several steps to ensure free movement of fish and birds in the sanctuary of the Baikka Beel. He further said, the residents of the Beel adjacent villages would be shifted to other places.
Conscious people of the area, however, demanded to increase the dimension of the Beel areas, excavation of shallow areas in the Beel and making of protective walls, fences around the Beel to increase the birds' population at the Beel.
