The Haor festival 2013 will begin at Derai upazila in Sunamganj on Friday, aiming to bring the potential of haor natural resources and its beauty in the limelight.
Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba), an environmental organisation, in cooperation with Bangladesh Tourism Board will arrange the two-day fourth festival.
Eminent environmentalist Prof Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad will inaugurate the festival while minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta will speak on the occasion as the chief guest.
The haor is a wetland ecosystem in the northeastern part of Bangladesh which physically is a bowl or saucer-shaped shallow depression. The haor basin is an internationally important wetland ecosystem situated in Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Kishoreganj and Netrakona.
Speaking at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday, Poba Chairman Abu Naser Khan said the haors had a unique ecosystem and biodiversity with plenty of natural resources, but those were at stake today.
“The plants, birds, fish and biodiversity as well as the livelihood and culture of haor region have got engendered. It’s our national duty to protect the haors,” he said.
He said Poba has taken various programmes, including seminar, indigenous games, boat race, boat journey, debate, and plantation, and essay competition, display of agricultural equipment, cake display, cockfight, and cultural function to celebrate the haor festival.
Eminent poets, artistes, intellectuals and professionals of the country and representatives from haor districts will join the festival.
Poba General Secretary Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, Secretary Dr Hamid Dad Khan and Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board Akhter Ahmed were also present at the press conference.
