More than a hundred baya weaver chicks were allegedly killed when a palm tree was cut down in the East Guatan area of Jhalakathi Sadar upazila. A group of people felled a huge palm tree in the area on Friday (27 June) afternoon. The tree was the only safe refuge for the nests and breeding of more than a hundred baya weavers.

Local people said the palm tree, on land owned by Mobarek Ali Fakir, had long been known as a safe home for baya weavers. It held countless baya weaver nests, eggs and chicks. When a man named Mizanur Rahman bought and cut down the tree, nearly a hundred or more chicks and eggs were destroyed.

Local resident Jahid Hossain said angrily: "The palm tree was not just a tree, it was a centre of biodiversity. Those who did this have committed a crime against nature."

Meanwhile, the local administration and the Forest Department have reportedly not yet taken any formal action. Concerned citizens have demanded that the accused be found immediately and strict action taken under environmental law.

Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farhana Yasmin said: "When we learned of the matter we sent a forest officer to the scene. A case will be filed against the accused under the wildlife conservation law."

The baya weaver is a beneficial and protected species for Bangladesh's environment. Its artful nest-building and social behaviour are admired around the world.

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