Char Muguria, a river port in Madaripur, has a long-standing tradition and its own culture. The area with numerous jute industries and surrounded by greenery, once was the living place of more than 10,000 monkeys, various birds and animals.
As there are hardly any trees left for allocating a huge population, the number of the animals is dramatically going down.
According to sources, there are now only 1,500 monkeys and they are facing acute food crisis as the “Programme for protection and development of endangered monkeys in Char Muguria area” ended recently.
The programme for protecting the monkeys was taken three years back, with the initiative of several persons including the-then local lawmaker Shahjahan Khan (presently shipping minister).
Quite a few monkeys have already died due to food crisis while many mother monkeys, passing days starved or half-starved, are even unable to breast feed their babies, locals said.
Deprived of their favourite foods banana, peanut and fruits, the monkeys randomly invade human habitations in search of food.
During a recent visit to the spot, it was found that the hungry monkeys were competing for the scanty foods like peanut or biscuit given by the visitors. They were also trying to eat whatever they got.
Hungry and irritated, the monkeys have turned a nuisance to the local people although earlier they were compassionate to them.
Concerned over the pitiable life of the monkeys, locals and visitors have urged immediate arrangement of food for the monkeys and permanent forestation in the area.
Due to depletion of forest following spread of human habitation, the monkeys, are now seriously threatened.
Arrangement was made for monkeys’ habitation in the forest sanctuary under a nine-mile area in three famous river ports - Kulpaddi, Madaripur Sadar and Char Muguria in 1857.
The monkeys used to feast on the fruits available in the jungles. Rich Marwari community living in the area revered the monkeys as gods and gave them different fruits including banana.
During the floods of 1988 and 1998, the monkeys in the area faced serious danger and many of them died for want of food.
Later, with the initiative of Shahjahan Khan. MP, and others a three-year long “Charmuguria monkey protection and development programme” was taken.
Under the Tk86 lakh programme, 50 kg ripe bananas, 10 kg peanuts and 30 kg green cucumber were supplied for the monkeys every day. The programme ended on June 30 this year.
Imran Sagor, a cultural personality in the area said: “Starving and weak, the monkeys have become vulnerable to different diseases that might spread among humans.”
District Livestock Officer Dr Humayun Kabir said immediate food supply should be arranged to save the monkeys, the heritage of Madaripur.
Monkeys, mostly moving at Kalibari, Swarnakarpatti, JTC, Adamjee, rice godowns and intersection areas, spend nights at abandoned jute godowns.
Madaripur Forest Officer Shahidul Haque said they have sought allocation for food for the monkeys but the higher authorities are not responding to the demand.
Miazuddin Khan, deputy commissioner, at a meeting in Circuit house of the town, urged Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan to save the animals.
When contacted recently, the minister said: “To save the monkeys, an echo-park has been set up in the area. They will be shifted to the park soon.”
