In eight Haors inside the largest Hakaluki Haor in Moulvibazar bird hunters are indiscriminately catching and killing hundreds of migratory birds since the advent of the winter.
It is learnt, the migratory birds from various chilly, cold regions of the world arrived in various beels and haors of the country, including at the Hakaluki, Kauadighi, Hile Haor and Baikka Beel in search of warmth and food. Many of these migratory birds are being caught and killed by being trapped in nets and by taking the 'poison baits' set by illegal bird hunters.
According to sources, there are 273 beels, 10 rivers and numerous canals inside the Hakaluki Haor. These beels and rivers are safe places for searching food and shelter for migratory birds.
However, the local dishonest bird hunters were engaged in hunting the migratory birds using various techniques.
Bird hunters were seen catching the migratory birds at Kauadighi Haor recently.
Three Photographers-Syed Abdul, Shahanul Karim Chapal and Rizwanul Karim recently visited Nagua and the Chatlar beels of Hakaluki Haor to snap photographs of the migratory birds. They watched 32 dead Ducks at Nagua Beel and some more dying Ducks. The migratory ducks are known as Piang Haas and Utturey Langa Haas in Bangladesh.
In places of Girim, Lama Mitupur, Dalia and Piala of Kauadighi Haor under Rajnagar upazila, the bird hunters had set their nets to catch birds. Local people informed, the birds are trapped in the nets while those visit these areas in search of food at night. In the morning, the hunters collected the trapped birds and sold those to the local people. They further informed the hunters in groups were catching migratory birds by using 'Poison baits' regularly. The local people did not dare to protest the catching of those birds because the bird hunters were influential and rough people.
Habibur Rahman, Leaseholder of Chatla Beel informed, in comparison to the previous years, the number of migratory birds has declined in Hakaluki Haor this year.
A local resident informed, ' The price of Birds at the Hakaluki Haor is exorbitant this year. The price of two ducks is Taka 1,600. You may put an Advanced Order for the birds but you need to visit alone while purchasing those'.
Khorsed Alam, a Member of the Patharia Wildlife Preservation Team informed, by defying the Wildlife Preservation Act-2012 which clearly bans the killing, hunting, keeping in possession and selling of any wild animals, and birds, a dishonest quarter of hunters were engaged in indiscriminately hunting migratory birds.
Dr Rizwanul Karim, Associate Professor of Epidemiology of Community Medicine at Patuakhali Medical College and Amateur Photographer said,' We went to watch the birds and take snaps of those at Nagua and Chatlar Beel of Hakaluki Haor. We were stunned to watch by watching dead birds at the Haor'.
This is causing a huge loss of biodiversity and also by consuming this poison-laced meat people are being attacked with various diseases of the Nervous system, Kidneys and Liver and even they may attacked with Cancer.
Dr Jahangir Alam, Divisional Forest Officer of Sylhet in this connection said, he came to learn about killing birds using the poison baits and informed the incident to the Deputy Commissioner and the concerned officials.
He added measures are underway to bring those dishonest bird hunters under the rule of the Law.
Deputy Commissioner of Moulvi Bazaar Urmme Binte Salam said,' We've learnt about the incident of birds hunting and it has been informed to the local public representatives so that no miscreant or hunter can catch or kill birds in the Haor.
We are conducting an impromptu drive against the hunters of the birds.
