By Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman

As soon as winter arrives, hunting migratory birds becomes something of a festival in the country. Wherever migratory birds feel safe, a band of hunters descends. The birds are sold openly in markets. Some well-off people tell hunters in advance to catch migratory birds and send them to their homes, so hunters have no trouble selling them.

Under the country's law, catching and selling migratory birds is completely banned, yet the killing goes on unchecked. The media report where, who, when and how the birds are being hunted, and where they are sold. The news is published; it is pointed out plainly.

Still, the local administration cannot take effective action. The question is why. Perhaps it does not give the issue importance, or, even when it does, lacks the manpower to act. Legal action against a hunter who is caught is weak, and the punishment is slight. Stricter laws must be made.

Migratory birds are caught in remote, hard-to-reach places. By the time police arrive after a tip-off, the hunters have fled. So conscientious citizens of the places where birds are caught must act themselves; they can build a strong movement to end bird hunting.

Local voluntary organisations can come forward, form committees and seek help from the local administration. Police alone cannot stop the hunting. The safety of migratory birds needs coordinated action; working in isolation will bring little success.

It is possible to form a committee with the upazila nirbahi officer as president and the officer-in-charge of the police station as general secretary, with local journalists, social workers, volunteers, head teachers, cultural activists and imams as members. There are many cases where local people have made their area free of bird hunting. If everyone works together, hunting of migratory birds and all other birds can be stopped.

The writer writes on the environment and nature.

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