RAJSHAHI, Jan 14: Poaching of migratory birds is going on unabated in different chars of the Padma River in the district.
Birds are poached with poison bates.
A visit found over 100 birds killed in the chars on Thursday and Friday.
Due to poaching in the last 14 years, birds have decreased by one-tenth in the Padma chars.
According to field sources, at least eight teams are poaching birds from city's Talaimari Char to T-Dam area. They set poison bates with fishes and set these in dark; birds eat these bates and turn sick. Later on, these are caught and slaughtered for selling in markets.
Per bird is sold at Tk 2,500 to 3,000 in markets in Rajshahi.
On Friday morning in T-dam area, locals came to see birds dead in char and they recovered at least 10 dead birds. Seeing locals to come poachers fled.
A dweller of T-dam area Niamat Ali said, before morning some people keep poison-mixed fishes in chars; and birds eat these in the morning; after eating the poison bates, they collect dead birds and slaughter these.
At least, 50-60 birds are poached while 10-15 ones remain dead which can't be taken away by poachers.
Due to the unabated bird poaching, Rajshahi is becoming free from birds.
A bird-lover Hasnat Rony said, because of poaching, birds are decreasing day by day in Rajshahi. Many birds are not coming on ground of security concern. Earlier their arrival would be seen from November to March in Padma chars. Now, they are thinly seen in December-January.
Rajshahi Divisional Wildlife Inspector Jahangir Kabir said, "We have been informed of bird killing on Padma chars. Our campaign teams have started to work. Primarily several poachers have been identified. After inquiry, measures will be taken against more.'
