In the past three years, the number of butterfly species has decreased to 57 from 110 in the Jahangirnagar University area, research shows.
One-fourth of all the species were earlier seen in different areas of the campus, but the number has come down alarmingly, Dr Monowar Hossain, a professor at the Department of Zoology at the university, told Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
Human beings should be aware of the fact that these butterflies require trees and bushes for their survival. With the reduction in the number of trees and bushes, the food chain of butterflies and their habitats are also being destroyed, he added.
Speaking at a press conference on the campus, Dr Monowar said a daylong Butterfly Fair 2023 will be held on Friday to create environmental awareness among people to conserve butterflies.
This year, the slogan of the event will be “Urley Akashey Projapoti, Prokriti Pai Notun Goti”.
The Department of Entomology is organizing the daylong event. The fair has been organized on campus since 2010.
Dr Monowar, who is the convener of the fair, said: “This year, we are going to organize the 13th Butterfly Fair. People of different ages, including children and teenagers, from different parts of the country come to see this fair every year. People come here to see and understand the importance of butterflies in nature. When children can see these with their own eyes, they learn to think about butterflies in a new way.”
He stressed that if butterflies survive, nature will survive.
The daylong fair also includes an art competition for children, a quiz competition, a debate competition, a documentary show on butterflies, a photo exhibition, and a live butterfly display at the butterfly park.
Dr Md Anwarul Islam, professor at the Department of Zoology of Dhaka University, will receive the Butterfly Award 2023 at the fair, while Md Jahir Raihan, a student at the Department of Zoology of Chittagong University, will receive the Butterfly Young Enthusiast 2023 award. There will also be a media award this year.