Wildlife poaching and trafficking must be stopped to protect biodiversity

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Water Resources, said that wildlife hunting and trafficking should be stopped to preserve biodiversity.

He said that all wildlife including tigers and elephants should be protected. All existing forests should be protected by stopping deforestation. Even small initiatives to protect the environment can make a big difference.

He said these things while addressing the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the national phase of 'Wildlife Olympiad' at Vikarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital on Saturday (November 9).

As an alumnus of Vikarunnisa Noon School and College, he reminisced and said that an initiative would be taken to declare an ancient tree of the institution as a memorial tree.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, through Wildlife Olympiad we are giving a message to protect our nature and wildlife. We want our future generation to live in green and beautiful Bangladesh. A number of measures have been taken to protect the only atoll island, Saint Martin.

He urged people not to use polythene shopping bags, not to honk unnecessarily and keep fan-lights off during the day.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Environment spoke as a special guest at the event. Farhina Ahmed. Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury presided. Majeda Begum, Principal of Vikarunnisa Noon School and College was present.

The program featured the video footage and musical score of the Olympiad's theme song. An oath was taken not to kill wildlife. T-shirts, certificates and gift items are given to the students participating in the national phase. Prizes of Tk 50,000, 30,000 and 20,000 are given to the best contestants in each category.

One hundred and seven thousand students participated in this year's Olympiad from all over the country through online and offline registration. After that Olympiads were held at district level in several stages and winners were awarded by the Forest Department.

Earlier, the adviser laid the foundation stone of the six-storey Swarnachampa academic building and inaugurated the eight-storey ICT building of the college.

On the same day, Sanghanayaka Shudhananda Rajguru Abhayananda Mahavihar of Chittagong gave a speech as the chief guest through a video message at the Solid Cheebar donation ceremony. He urged people of all communities to be on the path of peace.

RAS/MKR