Even five years ago, retired teacher Abdul Hamid took pride in his mango orchard, spanning over more than an acre of land. It was also his source of income, earning him around Tk150,000 from selling the orchard produce in 2009.
It is also the last year Hamid incurred any monetary gain from his orchard, thanks to migratory birds.
However, the resident of Bhallukgachhi Chokpara village, under the district’s Puthia upazila, let the birds find a sanctuary in his mango orchard.
The villagers also joined in to protect the sanctuary, which has now turned into a tourist spot.
But the birds found a safe haven in Hamid’s garden long before, the villagers told the Dhaka Tribune. Around seven years ago, they noticed around 10-15 birds making nests in a shimul tree there. The number increased a little every year.
Then one day in 2009, Hamid discovered around 10,000 birds nesting in his orchard.
“I found egg shells under the trees,” Hamid said. “The birds had hatchlings in the nests in my trees. They had made a home out of my orchard.”
Hamid has been facing monetary loss for the past five years as he can no longer grow mangoes because of the birds. Yet, he did not drive them away.
“This birds are my guest, they are our national treasure. People come to see these birds from far away,” he said.
“These birds migrate here in May every year, nest, and leave by the end of January,” said Esar Uddin, one of the villagers. “There are many other trees around Hamid’s orchard, but these birds always choose his trees to nest.”
A bird enthusiast himself, Hamid has made sure the birds feel safe on his property, despite all inconveniences they have caused him.
His love for birds is shared by everyone in the entire village – men, women and children alike, said Hamid’s son Ripon. “The villagers are determined to protect the sanctuary and do not let any hunters enter the village,” he said.
Ashraful Islam, a student, said: “After the word got out about this place, a few hunters have tried to come to our village, but the villagers always turn them away.”
Manjurul Islam, a farmer, said these birds had made the village famous, while school student Moushumi, said they were the main source of recreation for the villagers.
‘The government could lend a hand’
Hamid complained about the lack of government help in running the sanctuary.
“I am a retired teacher. My mango orchard was my only source of income, but now I cannot grow mangoes because of these birds. If the government compensated me, I could let the birds stay,” he said.
In 2012, he informed Lutfor Rahman, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) at the time, about the birds. “But all he did was putting up a signboard declaring my orchard a reserved area,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
The current UNO of Puthia Khandaker Farhad Ahmed was very impressed on his visit to Hamid’s bird sanctuary on Monday.
“This sanctuary has increased this village’s beauty. Hamid has set an example by sacrificing so much for these birds,” he said.
He said the upazila administration would take necessary steps to preserve the biodiversity in the area as well as ensure a safe and healthy environment for tourists.
“We plan to build a road to the sanctuary. We will also take legal steps to ensure the birds’ safety. Even if we are unable to provide financial help to Hamid, we will certainly try to give him the state honour,” the UNO said.