The New Nation - Internet Edition

Al-Amin

The guest birdless Jahangirnar University campus is disappointing hundreds of enthusiastic bird watchers, specially those who are coming on the campus from far and near to enjoy the panoramic view of the wild fowls floating majestically on the lakes.

The Jahangirnagar University (JU) is known as the lone residential university in the country that prides itself of a large number of lakes and bushes providing safe sanctuary to the birds fleeing the freezing cold of the Siberian winter.

Every year in the winter season, the migratory birds come here from far off Siberia and other cold countries seeking refuge in the warmer climate of Bangladesh.

With about 15 small and large lakes, the campus presents a congenial environment for the migratory birds. Pankowri, heron, soraly, ducks and many more other nameless birds descend on the campus and live on little fish, insects and snails. This year they came a little earlier in the winter season but did not stay. After a few days they flew away for unknown reason.

It is alleged that these birds are not fully free from the searching look of hunters. Miscreants kill a huge number of guest birds, but the university authorities have not taken any step to protect the birds. Also there has never been any organisational effort to provide food or security to these birds.

Ornithologists of the Zoology department of the university thought that the congregation of huge number of students during the admission test, scarcity of food, insufficient water and the wastes of transport workshop within the university are mainly responsible for shooing off the birds.

M Enam Al Hoque, a prominent ornithologist of the country told this correspondent "environmental pollution, destroying of bio-diversity, scarcity of food and the destruction of the habitat of guest birds are the main causes of the absence of birds".

He also alleged that despite the strong restriction on hunting guest birds by law, the winter migratory birds are not completely safe from poachers.

Hoque also wants to see the implementation of the law to protect the migratory birds, which beautify the natural environment of the country and pleases the nature lovers.