<i>'Hunting, habitat destruction threaten guest bird numbers'</i>
With migratory birds dwindling in numbers across the globe, the situation is especially dire in Bangladesh, said speakers at a programme yesterday.
The migratory bird situation has worsened in the country over the last two decades due to indiscriminate hunting and destruction of their habitat, they added.
The speakers were addressing the World Migratory Bird Festival at North South University (NSU) in the capital.
NSU, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bangladesh Bird Club and Prokritee O Jibon Foundation jointly organised the programme in observance of the World Migratory Bird Day 2012 yesterday.
Celebrated on the second weekend of May, the annual event is a global campaign to raise awareness and highlight the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats.
Journeying from their home countries, the migratory birds come to Bangladesh and settle in haors, canals and other water bodies which are being spoiled and destroyed in various ways, said IUCN Country Representative Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed.
Indiscriminate hunting and the increase in the use of pesticides in crop fields add to the cause behind the dwindling numbers of the birds in the country, he added.
It was stated in the festival that 320 out of 700 species of birds in the country are migratory. Of them, some 290 birds visit during the winter season while the rest arrive throughout the year.
Acting Vice Chancellor of NSU Prof Dr Abdus Sattar said protection and preservation of the environment is of utmost importance to attract and provide shelter to these birds.
This is something the government cannot achieve by itself and needs the assistance of the masses, the speakers added.
Bangladesh Bird Club President Inam Al Haq and Prokritee O Jibon Foundation Chairman Mukit Majumder Babu also spoke at the programme.
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