The roof of the house covers 8,000 square feet, yet stepping onto it feels like entering a paradise of colourful birds. Some of the world's most beautiful ducks, rare foreign birds, peacocks, macaws and Amazon parrots, more than two hundred pairs in all, move about here. The farm was built by Bazlur Rashid Selim, a resident of the Tanbazar Pukurpar area of Narayanganj city.

Selim has named his farm "Saruma Bird Breeding Park". He has loved keeping ornamental birds of many kinds since childhood, and that hobby has gradually grown into a well-planned bird breeding park. It holds more than 200 pairs of birds of 50 species.

The farm has blue-and-gold macaws, African grey parrots, red-lored Amazon parrots, harlequin peafowl, various breeds of chicken and many colourful ornamental foreign birds.

One of the farm's main attractions is the mandarin duck, known as one of the world's most beautiful ducks. It is mostly found in coastal areas of China, Japan and Korea and usually nests in tall trees. It is known worldwide for its variety of colour and its beauty. Selim's farm has about 15 pairs of mandarin ducks.

Neighbours are also delighted with Selim's unusual bird farm and come to spend time there. They say such a setting is truly rare in the city, offering a chance to pass leisure time close to nature. With dancing peacocks, colourful birds in flight and the chirping of many species, the rooftop farm has become a special place of peace of mind. Many come regularly to spend time with the birds, look after them and take photographs.

College student Joydas Pritom, visiting the farm, told Jagonews24: "Everyone likes nature. Those of us who live in the city do not have many places to spend time, so I come here every day. I like it a lot."

Another visitor, Asima Tasfiq, said: "Whenever I have free time, I come here. When I first came up to the roof I was amazed. You don't expect an environment like this in the city."

Bazlur Rashid Selim told Jagonews24: "I built the bird farm purely as a hobby. I don't sell any birds. But many people come to see my farm, and seeing how they feel makes me happy too."

Narayanganj district livestock officer Dr Md Abdul Mannan Mia told Jagonews24: "We are always at the service of those who keep ornamental animals and birds. If they vaccinate regularly, the animals and birds will stay healthy and keepers will benefit. We will always help farm owners."

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