Ushar Alo Foundation, a voluntary organisation of college and university students, has begun setting up bird nests at more than a hundred sites in Narail to create safe breeding places and a sanctuary for birds. Clay nests are being placed in trees in Narail town and surrounding areas.

Narail deputy commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman inaugurated the unusual initiative on Saturday afternoon (18 September) by placing a nest in a banyan tree in the grounds of the district Shilpakala Academy.

Present were Narail additional superintendent of police Md Riazul Islam; Ushar Alo Foundation president Md Minhazul Islam and general secretary Shafayat Hossain; Lohagara upazila president Md Mahmudul Hasan; and executive members Nabil Rahman, Md Abdullah, Monirul Islam, Khalid Hossain, Mujahidul Islam, Hasibur Rahman Bappy, Nizam Uddin, Mahfuz Ahsan, Tamal, Ahnaf and Imamul Sheikh, among others.

On the first day, nests were placed in trees at several locations, including the district Shilpakala Academy grounds, the deputy commissioner's bungalow, the superintendent of police's bungalow and Chorerghat. The organisers said nests will be set up at other places in phases.

The organisation's president Minhazul Islam said birdsong is rarely heard in Narail town now. With urbanisation and climate change, many kinds of birds have begun to disappear. "That is why we have come forward to conserve birds and ensure they can breed safely," he said.

Narail additional superintendent of police Md Riazul Islam said it was an excellent initiative. "We in the police administration stand beside this work. If you give us information about bird hunters, they will be brought to book," he said.

In his speech, deputy commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman said a group of enterprising young people from Ushar Alo Foundation had taken a praiseworthy initiative to conserve birds and increase their breeding. Our young people and bird lovers must come forward like this, he said.

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