Bilnepalpara village under Paba upazila in Rajshahi has been declared a pollinator-friendly area for bees to protect pollination, biodiversity, and agroecology.
The declaration was made on Tuesday during a programme organized by the Bilnepalpara Women’s Organization marking World Bee Day. Farmers, local residents, students, youth, and people from different professions attended the event.
Speakers said bees and other pollinating insects are essential for agricultural production, plant reproduction, biodiversity conservation, food security, and environmental balance. However, they warned that bee populations are declining rapidly due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, along with the destruction of natural habitats.
As part of the declaration, local farmers and residents pledged not to use chemical fertilizers or pesticides in the area. They also called for similar pollinator-friendly zones to be established across Bangladesh and urged the government to promote agroecological and indigenous farming practices.
The programme was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), Barendra Youth Forum, and the Bilnepalpara Women’s Organization. BARCIK Associate Programme Officer Touhidul Islam conducted the event.
Barendra Youth Forum President Atikur Rahman Atik highlighted the ecological importance of bees, saying more than 20,000 species of bees have been documented worldwide, while scientists estimate that around 100,000 species may exist globally.
He said many pesticides used in agriculture are extremely harmful to pollinating insects, especially when sprayed indiscriminately during flowering seasons and daytime hours.
Farmer Golapjan Begum said pollinating insects that were once common in the village are now disappearing because of chemical use in farming.
Another farmer, Abdus Salam, called on the government to support natural farming practices and provide incentives for farmers to adopt organic pest-control methods.
Farmer Sultana Khatun said the community has long practiced agroecology through a local learning center and community seed bank.
