A panoramic butterfly fair was held on the Jahangirnagar University campus yesterday amid different colourful events.
The Institution – with a campus sprawled over almost three square kilometres, is known for its rich greenery of grass and trees, providing a natural sanctuary to birds and flying insects, and hosts such festivals every winter.
Several hundred butterfly lovers attended the fair that was organised by the entomology branch of Zoology Department of the university with the theme: “Urley Akashe Projapoti, Prokriti Pai Natun Goti” [Flying butterflies give nature a new life].
Teachers and students of the Zoology Department have been arranging the fair since 2010.
Around 150 different species of butterflies were exhibited in the fair. Over a hundred species of butterflies among some 500 species that are found in Bangladesh are seen at the university.
Acting vice-chancellor of the university Prof MA Matin inaugurated the fair by releasing butterflies and balloons at the university’s Zahir Raihan auditorium premises around 11:30am, while pro VC Prof Afsar Ahmed, programme’s media partner Channel i Director Mukit Mazumder Babu, Zoology Department Chairperson Prof Sazeda Begum were present at the inauguration programme.
The acting VC urged all to conserve butterflies considering its usefulness and importance in ecological balance, and thanked the Zoology Department for such an initiative and promoting the university countrywide through the fair as well.
“I hope the Zoology Department will continue such initiatives in the future and uphold the university through their extraordinary academic activities and practical initiatives as well,” MA Matin said.
The fair Convener Prof Dr Monwar Hossain, also teacher of the Zoology Department said they should provide safety to butterflies because day by day the commercial value of butterflies is increasing and they had a significant impact on the nature and total ecosystem.