Tech-run dev process to collapse
Warns naturalist Dwijen Swarma at exhibition
Visitors observe indigenous rice varieties, vegetables and fruits and traditional social and cultural motifs collected from different parts of the country at a three-day-long exhibition that began at Drik Gallery in the capital yesterday. Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) organised the exhibition styled 'Exhibition on uncultivated food, local rice varities and rural food-biodiversity of Bangladesh.'Photo: STAR
The development process, which is driven by technology and neglects nature, will collapse, renowned naturalist Dwijen Swarma warned yesterday. “The development plan being implemented now is borrowed from the western colonialists and is separating us from the nature,” said Swarma, also a nature writer, at the inaugural of a three-day exhibition. Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) is organising it at Drik Gallery in the capital. The exhibition titled "Uncultivated food, local rice varieties and rural food-biodiversity of Bangladesh" will remain open from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Over 500 indigenous rice varieties, 250 vegetables, fruits and traditional social and cultural motifs collected from different parts of the country are being exhibited. Dwijen Swarma said leaders of the tropical part of the world, including Mahatma Gandhi, wanted development where human and nature will live hand in hand. However, after the Second World War, the western colonialists imposed a development paradigm that is dependent on technology and destructive to the nature, he said. “I am frustrated about the future of the human race with such technological development and destruction of ecology,” he said, expecting that the authorities will take lesson from the consequences. Mokaram Hossain, a nature writer, said Bangladesh is gradually losing its indigenous rice, fruits, vegetable varieties and trees. “Instead, we see many alien trees that are not suitable for this land,” he said. Now there are so many trees Eucalyptus and Acacia -- in each and every corner of the country. These are causing loss of natural balance, he said, adding that adequate research should be done before planting alien trees. Sujit Chowdhury, advisor on climate change from German Embassy-Dhaka, said ecological degradation is so widespread in Bangladesh that there must be strong movements, including in the political parties, to preserve the nature. “Otherwise, this country will not sustain,” he said, adding that Germany is a leading partner in mitigating climate change challenges. Germany will stand by Bangladesh in its efforts to tackle climate change impacts, he added. Sukanta Sen, executive director of BARCIK, said they have been trying to create awareness on protection of the country's biodiversity for long, and the exhibition was part of it.
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