Photowalk captures crisis as bird hunters decimate Bangladesh's wildlife

The rapidly increasing indiscriminate hunting of birds across Bangladesh has become a major catastrophe for the country’s biodiversity, environment and ecosystem.

To protest this alarming situation, a photowalk, birdwatching session and local awareness programme was organised on Friday, at Newvision Ecocity, near Kalatia in Keraniganj by wildlife photographers, birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

Participants from different walks of life joined the event with the goal of raising awareness among local communities about the devastating impacts of bird hunting.

During the programme, they observed more than 50 species of birds, including Black Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cormorants, various species of Warblers, Baya Weavers, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Brahminy Kite, and many others.

They also demanded effective initiatives to stop rampant bird hunting across the country.

According to the organisers, from migratory birds like the Greylag Goose to local species like the Night Heron and Black Bittern, none are safe from hunters anymore.

If birds are unsafe even in Dhaka city, the situation in remote regions is far more terrifying.

Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Kurigram, Naogaon, Natore, Sirajganj, Pabna, Chattogram, and almost every region of the country are witnessing a surge in bird hunting.

Environmentalists fear that without immediate national-level intervention, environmentally vulnerable Bangladesh will move toward faster ecological collapse.

Tareq Anu, world traveler and member of Bangladesh Bird Club, said, “Hunting wild birds means harming ourselves. The day birds disappear from the Earth, humans will follow. Let’s stop bird hunting together.”

Adnan Azad, convener of Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association (BAWA), said, “Indiscriminate killing of birds and wildlife is equivalent to destroying nature. Both local and migratory birds are our natural assets—they must be protected.”

Documentary filmmaker of “Birds of Dhaka: The Sky is Shrinking” and NatSave General Secretary Asker Rusho, said, “From my early childhood I saw many hunting incidents, but after started bird photography, my perspective changed completely. In rural areas, hunting has become epidemic, if we do not work together now, hunters will wipe out Bangladesh’s birds.”

Founder of Bird Life of Bengal Nisorg Ami, said, “People are becoming more educated and urbanized—yet bird hunting is not decreasing. If the last bird disappears, nothing will remain but regret.”

Wildlife photographer Siamiyat Khan Ziko (Chalan Beel region) said, “In Pabna, Sirajganj, and Natore, bird hunting has reached alarming levels. Law enforcement and local involvement are essential.”

Admin of Bangladesh’s largest bird photography group Birds Bangladesh, Shahriar Kabir Rushdi, said, “Nets, guns, poison-baits, glue—everything is being used. From Haor area to Coastal belt, nowhere the birds are safe. We have laws, but no implementation. In addition to stopping bird hunting, we must also be vocal about stopping the use of electric nets to protect crops.”

To protect the environment and future generations, public awareness, enforcement of law, community participation, and national resistance are now urgently required to stop bird hunting.