The Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (BBCF) has rescued 40 native mynas (shalik) that were being trafficked in Kushtia.

The BBCF's Kushtia team recovered the birds after dusk on Sunday (11 May) in front of the Mojompur Jame Mosque next to Mojompur Gate in the town.

It is learnt that on Sunday a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, Tarek, had brought the 40 birds to Mojompur Gate from bird trader Chanchal of the Noy Mile Kachari area of Bheramara upazila, for Tk 200, to load them onto a Shyamoli Paribahan vehicle. A local businessman, Pavel Rahman, saw the large number of native birds and informed the BBCF Kushtia team, who reached the spot and rescued them.

Forest department staff later arrived and took the birds, the auto-rickshaw and its driver to the forest department office. The driver was released after giving a written undertaking. The birds were due to be released during the day on Monday (12 May).

BBCF vice-president Shahabuddin Milon, Kushtia team organising secretary and journalist Nabbir Al Nafiz, office secretary Mir Kushal, Milon of the forest department in Kushtia, and Sona Sattar took part in the rescue.

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