Save Baikka Beel before it is too late

The steady degradation of Baikka Beel, despite its designation as a protected sanctuary, is deeply frustrating. Although the wetland was declared off-limits to the public a year ago to allow it to recover, picnicking, fishing, bird hunting, and littering continue almost unabated. Situated in Sreemangal’s Hail Haor region, the beel has long been recognised for its ecological importance. Each year, migratory birds arrive before winter and remain until late March, with some species reportedly making it their permanent home. Yet, the wetland is quietly slipping towards ecological collapse.

Nearly a third of the wetland has already been lost to siltation, while persistent poaching and habitat degradation have caused a sharp decline in bird populations. Bird census data since 2008 show how a once-successful conservation effort has fallen into neglect. Fish theft has also become rampant in this designated fish sanctuary. Night-time fishing continues, often by large armed groups, outnumbering the few guards tasked with protecting the wetland. With fish stocks dwindling, birds are losing a vital food source.

While legal and institutional frameworks exist, they are rarely enforced. Bird hunting, for example, is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, yet enforcement remains weak. The management committee formed to protect the beel also lacks manpower, limiting its effectiveness. On top of this, the absence of sustained public awareness has allowed illegal practices to continue with little resistance.

The situation in Baikka Beel is not an isolated incident. Across the country, forests, wetlands, hills, and rivers are facing alarming environmental degradation. Rapid urbanisation, unplanned infrastructure projects, illegal logging, hill cutting, and overfishing are destroying ecosystems that once supported rich biodiversity. Wetlands and haors are shrinking. Deforestation and habitat loss are forcing wildlife into human settlements, threatening species survival. As in Baikka Beel, weak enforcement of existing laws, poor coordination among agencies, and growing human pressure continue to accelerate ecological decline nationwide. This must stop.

We hope the next government will show a genuine commitment to protecting our environment. Baikka Beel, Hakaluki Haor, and all such wetlands must be safeguarded from constant human greed. To preserve Baikka Beel, authorities must immediately strengthen law enforcement, increase manpower, ensure better coordination between relevant agencies, and invest in community awareness programmes. Without decisive action, Baikka Beel could join the long list of natural habitats we have failed to protect over the years.