For the first time in Bangladesh, World Migratory Birds Day 2020 was celebrated online via social media on Saturday.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Birds connect our world.”
The day was celebrated with the active participation of 105 enthusiastic students from various colleges and universities across the country. It was enjoyed by about 3,000 bird lovers around the world.
With the aim of using Facebook as an educative tool and utilizing this leisure time in quarantine, the program had been designed to bring people closer to nature from within the safety of one’s home. It was thus that the program found a sense of purpose through the active participation of almost 5,000 students throughout the country.
The day turned out to be eminently successful for the organizers.
It was celebrated via the social networking platform Facebook as a joint venture of Dhaka University Nature Conservation Club of the Department of Zoology, Bangladesh Zoological Society, National Science and Technology Museum and Nature Conservation Society.
Professor of Zoology at University of Dhaka Dr Firoj Jaman and former Deputy Conservator of Forests Dr Tapan Kumar Dey presented the keynote speech.
As part of the event, various competitions were arranged among students of various universities. The competitions included quizzes, illustrations, 3-minute presentations, awareness posters and comprehension.
Students of Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, Noakhali Science and Technology University, various medical colleges, the seven colleges under Dhaka University and National University along with many bird lovers made the event meaningful through their participation.
The event even attracted audiences from around the globe.
A vast portion of nature comprises birds, the beautiful winged creatures, travellers across the free sky.
Birds which migrate from one place to another during a certain time of the year are known as migratory birds.
These creatures play a significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium. However, due to various reasons, they are now on the verge of extinction.
The event was organized to address this situation. Through the event, bird enthusiasts could know about the current condition of these magnificent beings.
Those who made the event possible
The program was conducted under the guidance of Professor Humayun Reza Khan, chairman of the Department of Zoology of DU and supervision of Dr Niamul Naser, professor in the Department of Zoology, DU.
Professor Dr Firoz Zaman, Professor Dr Murshida Begum, Dr Tapan Kumar Dey, Lecturer Mahbub Alam and Muntasir Akash were patrons at the event.
Amidst the students, SM Shafi and Ashikur Rahman Shome directed the program online. Elma, Falguni, Ananna, Niger Sultana Supti, Arnob Saha and Urboshi, students of the department, played a vital role in conducting the event smoothly.
The guests of honour at the event were the director general of the Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh; chief conservator of Forests, director general of National Science and Technology Museum, deputy commissioner of Habiganj, director of Aronno Foundation, director of Bangladesh Bird Club and president of the Zoological Society of Bangladesh.
