Wildlife hunting and trafficking must be stopped to conserve biodiversity, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources.

She said all wildlife, including tigers and elephants, must be protected. Forest destruction must stop and all existing forests must be saved. Even small steps can bring big changes in protecting the environment, she said.

She was speaking as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the national round of the "Wildlife Olympiad" at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital on Saturday, 9 November.

As a former student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, she shared various memories and said steps would be taken to declare an old tree at the institution a heritage tree.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said: "Through the Wildlife Olympiad we are sending a message about protecting our nature and wildlife. We want our future generations to live in a green and beautiful Bangladesh. We have taken various steps to protect Saint Martin's, our only coral island."

She urged people not to use polythene shopping bags, not to sound horns needlessly and to keep fans and lights off during the day.

Environment ministry secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed spoke as special guest. Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hosain Chowdhury presided, and Majeda Begum, principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, was present.

A video of the Olympiad's theme song and a musical drama were shown, and an oath not to kill wildlife was administered. Students who took part in the national round received T-shirts, certificates and gifts. The best competitors in each category received prizes of Tk 50,000, Tk 30,000 and Tk 20,000.

This year 107,000 students from across the country took part through online and offline registration. District-level rounds were then held in several stages, and the winners received prizes from the Forest Department.

Earlier, the adviser laid the foundation stone of the college's six-storey Swarnachampa academic building and inaugurated its eight-storey ICT building.

On the same day, the environment adviser spoke as chief guest by video message at a Kathin Chibar Dan ceremony held at the Sanghanayak Shuddhananda Rajguru Abhayananda Mahavihara in Chattogram. She urged people of all communities to stay on the path of peace.

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