Save haor to preserve bio-diversity

They said unplanned crop cultivation and excessive extraction of aquatic resources year after year have virtually denuded the uniqueness of these wet lands.

The meeting was organised by Haor Bachao Andolon (movement for saving the haor).

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at the National Press Club.

There is no effective government control and management in protecting the water bodies, said a wildlife activist Shahjahan Sardar of Nature Conservation Committee.

Haors like Tangua, Pashua, Hakaluki, Kawadighi, Hail and Balai in northeastern region of the country are ideal places for wildlife sanctuary and to maintain ecological balance, said Water Development Board Chief Engineer M Enamul Haque in his keynote paper.

But excessive drainage of water for cultivation of high yielding variety of Boro and Aman has rendered the haor and baor devoid of aquatic bio-resources, he added.

Enamul said a total of 44 thousand square kilometre wet land comprising haor, baor, lake, floodplain and river confluence constitutes three percent of the country's total area.

He recommended that haor and baor be declared wildlife sanctuaries to conserve bio- diversity and aquatic herbs.

Enamul said excessive drainage and illegal occupation in the name of leasing have to be stopped.

Former teacher of Chittagong University Dr Ansarul Karim said temporary submergible embankment is a suitable solution to protect crops in the haor from floods.

He called for a national policy to protect the low-lying wet lands including preventive measures against silt deposition in haor and baor.

A number of inhabitants from haor aras in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Kishoreganj, while speaking at the meeting, demanded cancellation of the lease of haors, adequate afforestation there and involvement of locals in protecting the wet land.

Moderated by former advisor to caretaker government Prof A S M Shahjahan, the meting was attended by Convenor of Haor Bachao Andolon Abu Naser Khan and Mercantile Bank Advisor Taher Uddin.