The lovebird, the bird of love: some buy them, some simply love them. They are beautiful to look at, and their varied lives charm everyone. Ignoring the drizzle of the monsoon month of Shrabon, many bird lovers gathered at the IDEB building in Kakrail, Dhaka, on 7–8 August. As the day was a Friday, it suited everyone.

The IDEB multipurpose hall was colourfully decorated with lovebird banners, posters and lovebird shapes cut from board. It was like a different world of birds. In long rows of small white cages, lovebirds flitted here and there, coming to the front of the cage and poking out their beaks as if calling to everyone. Some visitors stared, transfixed, at lovebirds turning somersaults. Some over-eager visitors tried to pet the birds through the cage and gave up after getting pecked.

There was more than birds in the cages. Each bird's description and serial number were written out, and the cages were decorated with colourful ribbons and Lovebird Association badges, so that even someone who knew nothing about birds could learn by reading them. The birds' owners stood alongside, ready to answer anyone's questions.

The Lovebird Association of Bangladesh organised the National Lovebird Championship 2025, the first international-standard event of its kind in Bangladesh. Seeing and learning about the best birds was open to all, from morning until nearly evening. On 7 August bird lovers from around the country brought birds to compete. More than 500 birds of nine species and 41 mutations took part.

The judge was Adnan Salim, an internationally known lovebird expert from Pakistan. He judged the birds of each mutation against international standards. Finding no bird worthy of third prize in one variety, he gave that prize to no one. He praised such a well-organised lovebird event in Bangladesh, said he hoped such events would help improve bird quality, and said Bangladesh has great potential in lovebirds.

Nahid Kaiser Shuvo, president of the Lovebird Association of Bangladesh, said the same. With government support, he said, international-standard lovebirds could be exported from Bangladesh. "It is not just about giving winners certificates and medals. Through the competition they have learned about bird quality, and at the open seminar they learned a lot of valuable information about lovebirds." After five o'clock on 8 August, Adnan Salim presented information on lovebirds at the seminar and answered questions.

All the rules followed at international competitions were observed. One bird could not be named Best in Show because it had no closed ring on its leg. In the judge's assessment, four of Debashish Barua's birds won prizes. He said: "Events like this encourage bird lovers and will help create new bird keepers."

Best in Show went to Nazmul Alam's par blue opaline Fischer's lovebird. He is the owner of NZ Birds and thanked everyone at the Lovebird Association of Bangladesh for such a fine event.

Agriculturist and lovebird keeper Shafiq Biplob came from Jhenaidah. "To do well at keeping birds and to understand bird quality, it is very important to come to competitions like this. I came to get an idea of good-quality birds. I learned about world-standard judging and the qualities of the best birds from Adnan Salim."

Women are not lagging behind in keeping lovebirds, managing birds alongside family and studies. One of them, Nahida Shampa, won a gold medal for first place in DEC green opaline. University student Keya has kept lovebirds for a long time. "Lovebirds have brought variety to my life. With classes and studies I used to feel very bored. Now I look after the lovebirds in my free time. It gives me peace of mind and I feel refreshed."

Mehjabin, a third-grade pupil, was delighted to see so many birds together and asked her father to buy her a pair. Government official Aminul Islam came with his son Tushar. "I did not know lovebirds were so beautiful. I liked it. I will buy my son a pair of lovebirds."

Lovebird lover Mahin said he used to spend all his time on gadgets and hanging out with bad company in the neighbourhood. Since his father bought him lovebirds, those habits are gone, and he spends time with the birds between studies. His love of lovebirds has changed his life.

In busy city life, the lovebird event refreshed visitors like a shower in a heatwave. They said they want to see more such pet bird events, while experienced people in the sector hope for government support to develop the pet bird sector.

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