By Sajedur Abedin Shanto

In 2014, seven young people from Baiguni village in Shalmara union, Gobindaganj upazila, Gaibandha, founded Paribesh Unnayan Paribar under the slogan "We will build a pollution-free, beautiful society". Their main work is making safe artificial homes for native birds, protecting the natural environment and biodiversity, and various social projects. They work to conserve birds, nature and the environment in Baiguni, Mohimaganj, Sonatala in Bogura and other areas.

The organisation now has 40 members. Out of love for birds, it began its bird conservation programme by making nests in its home village, and it has stepped forward to protect birds from a hostile environment.

The group has already created safe homes for birds in Baiguni village in Shalmara union and on the upazila complex of neighbouring Sonatala upazila in Bogura district. With its own money it has put up 2,000 clay pots as safe artificial nests in these places.

Besides stopping the killing of birds, building nests and improving and protecting the environment, the organisation does social work. This includes setting up a public library called "Lyceum", health care for people in need, advice on producing safe crops, blood donation drives, programmes against water and river pollution, opposing sand extraction, building bamboo bridges through voluntary labour, and encouraging people to use hygienic latrines.

Shalmara union panel chairman Ayub Ali said: "This organisation helps the destitute, gives study materials to underprivileged students and provides homes for birds, among other services. So everyone should stand by them. I wish the organisation success."

Local social worker Ali Azam Rubel said: "The members do their environmental work well. I think everyone in our area should help with the organisation's work."

Manju Mia, who has benefited from the group, said: "Through this organisation I got a tea stall. With it I can now support my family well. I am grateful to the organisation and hope it keeps going."

He said: "We do this work with members' regular subscriptions. Even for new work, we collect the money from among the members. Paribesh Unnayan Paribar has carried on this way from the start."

The organisation's president, Imran H Mondal, said: "So far we have made artificial homes for birds by hanging pots in trees. We have planted many kinds of trees, including medicinal plants. We have also built bamboo bridges, held medical camps, given winter help and distributed study materials to underprivileged students."

The writer is a feature writer and a student at Bangabandhu College, Dhaka.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.