The loss of all democratic and political rights as citizens for more than a decade and a half has bred a kind of intolerance in many people's minds, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said.

To overcome this intolerance and become humane, let our pledge be to gain humanity and give up brutality, he said.

Tarique Rahman made the remarks on 13 September, joining virtually an exhibition titled "Prani O Praner Milon Mela" (a festival of animals and life) at the China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital. The exhibition was organised by the Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association.

"When people are compassionate towards animals and ensure safe habitats for them, it reflects the maturity and higher morality of human society," Tarique Rahman said. "So for people's own needs, animals must be kept alive and their habitats kept intact."

"Personally, I think the relationship between democracy and people's rights is like the relationship between the ecosystem and the rights of birds, animals and wildlife. So if democracy and integrity are established in the state and politics, the ecosystem genuinely stays safe," he said.

He then led the slogan: "Save life, save animals, let the country be a safe haven for all life."

Highlighting the importance of animals, the BNP acting chairman said frogs eat the larvae of Aedes mosquitoes and help stop them spreading. "This is a natural way. So to stop these poisonous mosquitoes spreading, safe habitats for frogs are needed, especially in towns and cities."

Citing a survey by an international organisation, Tarique Rahman said the country had more than 1,600 species of animals, of which nearly 300 have been pushed to the brink of extinction. This is not only in Bangladesh; in many other countries too many species are under threat from situations people have created. In the 1980s the Sundarbans had, most probably, more than 400 tigers, he said; the latest survey has found the number has fallen to near 100. Elephants have also dropped below 200.

He said the country has many relevant laws, including the Animal Welfare Act 2019, the wildlife conservation and security act, the biodiversity act, the environment development act, the environment conservation act and the climate change trust act. "Inshallah, if BNP gets the chance to run the state through the people's verdict, we will update these laws for the safety of birds, animals, wildlife and the ecosystem. Many of these laws need changing," he said.

The event was chaired by film actor Adnan Azad, convener of Bangladesh Animal Welfare. Other speakers included BNP senior joint secretary general Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi; Abdul Hai Sikder, adviser to the chairperson and editor of the daily Jugantor; BNP treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat; BNP assistant local government affairs secretary Shammi Akhter; Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University professor Dr Abdul Latif; Jahangirnagar University zoology professor Dr Monowar Hossain Tuhin; former Bangladesh national cricket captain Tamim Iqbal Khan; Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association chief organiser Atiqur Rahman Rumon; Abul Hasan Morshed Emon; Dipanwita Ridi; film actress Irin Sultana; Rahima Anjum Pushpa; and Engineer Abul Hanif.

Also present were businessman Avik Iskandar; former Dhaka North city BNP president S M Jahangir; BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan; Amra BNP Paribar adviser Md Abul Kashem; Engineer Mostafa-e Zaman Selim; member secretary agriculturist Mokchhedul Momin Mithun; members Masud Rana Liton, Shakil Ahmed, Farhad Ali Sajib and Shahadat Hossain; cricketer Shafiul Alam; Bangladesh Animal Welfare senior joint convener Bappi Khan; BAWEA legal affairs secretary Advocate Nishat Tamanna Zaman; Engineer Abu Hanif; and Dr Atiqur Rahman Mithu, among others.

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