The lakes of Jahangirnagar University (JU) take a blissful look at the presence of migratory birds with the advent of winter.
Thousands of migratory birds, which come far from Siberia and other cold countries and territories, take shelter at the evergreen campus of JU in winter. The campus resonates with the chirping of birds. The campus was once considered a haven for migratory birds.
However, in recent years, the presence of migratory birds has declined at an alarming rate.
University officials feel that due to unplanned development, free-roaming by outsiders, and noise pollution caused by the high number of cars, migratory birds are less seen on the lakes and in the bushes of the university campus, which once provided a safe sanctuary for the guest birds.
The statistics of the last few years show that the arrival of migratory birds in the university area has gone down at an alarming rate.
The authorities have blamed mismanagement, including the construction of unplanned infrastructure, not renovating the lakes on time, cutting down of trees, leasing of the lake, and emergence of outsiders as the reason.
According to sources, 23 projects under the master plan are currently underway at the JU campus. Many projects have been completed, while some are still continuing. During the work of these projects, many trees have been felled, which is a big threat to the birds.
Professor of the Zoology Department of the University Dr Kamrul Hasan said that trees are being cut down in many places for development projects. This is an obstacle to the habitat and breeding of birds. Lakeside trees are not suitable for nesting birds. If the remaining conservation areas are still maintained, more trees can be planted to increase the expanse of greenery and then the campus will be suitable for birds.”
Moeem Hasan, a postgraduate student in the Department of Statistics, said: "Birds are no longer seen like before. Birds were still seen when we first came to this campus. But day by day that number has decreased. It is difficult to state the exact reason why the number has decreased. However, a lack of planning in infrastructure construction, climate change, and degradation of the reservoir environment, and the influx of outsiders and current students may be the reasons for the decline in the number of birds.”
He also blamed the university administration for not playing a sufficient role in this regard.
University Deputy Registrar (Estate) Abdur Rahman said: "There is no separate allocation for migratory birds and lakes in the internal budget of the campus. Allocations are made to this sector within the campus development sector. Every year during the monsoon, the lakes get filled with silt, garbage and other reasons. In 2012-13, during the time of the then Vice-Chancellor Anwar Hossain, about Tk2.5 crore was allocated to Jahangirnagar University for the renovation of the lake from an allocation included in Kabikha (Kajer Binimoye Khaddyo). The lake was renovated then but later due to lack of money the lake was not renovated. Later, an application was submitted to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief for allocation of funds, but it was not approved.”
Abdur Rahman also said that the lakes have to be cleaned in October every year. For this, contract workers are hired from outside for hours or days. The lakes were not cleaned completely last year.
Wishing anonymity, a JU official said that the lakes where birds do not roam have been leased. The advice and permission of the ornithologists of the campus have been taken in granting the lease.”
However, bird researcher Kamrul Hasan rejected the official's statement.
He said that the administration did not inform anything or did not take any advice about the lease of the lakes. The university's internal resource management committee decides which lakes will be leased and which will not. And the sad thing is that for the last 15-20 years no one from the Department of Zoology has been placed on this committee.”
The researcher further said that birds cannot roam in the leased lakes. Farmers use different types of pesticides which pose a threat to migratory birds. In some lakes, fish farming has made the water so clear that it no longer contains the birds' natural food."
Requesting anonymity, a former student and current teacher at the university said that compared to previous times the number of birds on the campus has declined a lot. Nowadays, the number of cars on the campus is more than before, birds are scared by the loud noise of cars. Many outsiders throw stones at birds during the holidays; As a result, birds now do not appear onthe lakes near the transport square.
This teacher thinks that the administration should pay attention to this matter.
University Registrar Rahima Kaniz told the media: "We will do whatever is necessary for Jahangirnagar University as a bird sanctuary."