With the slogan ‘Urley Akashey Projapoti, Prokriti Pai Natun Gati’ a daylong butterfly fair was held on Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus on Friday amid much enthusiasm.
Treasurer of JU Professor Rasheda Akhtar inaugurated the fair while Dean of Biological Faculty Professor Abdul Jabbar Hawlader, Founder of Prokrity O Jibon Foundation and Director of Channel I Mukit Majumder Babu were present, among others.
To raise awareness among the masses in the country to conserve butterflies, the Zoology department of JU in association with Cute Ltd, IUCN, Prokriti O Jibon Foundation and Channel I organized the fair.
Convener of the fair Prof Monowar Hossain said, “About four hundred species of butterflies, one of the major insect for pollination, can be noticed in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, one hundred and twenty species of butterflies can be noticed on the JU campus. Due to disruption of the habitat of these species, the number is now reduced to sixty only.”
“The presence of butterflies in an area shows that the nature is doing its good. So, initiative must be taken to protect the beauty of nature. If the environment of biodiversity is protected, the world will be better”, he added.
Prof Rasheda Akhar said, “To protect nature, the protection of butterflies should be ensured. If the butterfly is not kept well, the environment will not be fair. Butterflies are the symbol of a healthy forest. The more butterflies in a forest the healthier the forest.”
This year, Md. Hasmot Ali from Sirajganj received the Butterfly Award 2021 for his contribution on conserving butterfly where Ashikur Rahman Shome, student of Dhaka University Zoology department, received of Zoology department the Butterfly Young Enthusiast-2021 award for his contribution to the field of research on butterflies.
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From the morning, people of all ages participated in the fair to see the insects spreading in nature. Live butterflies, including Apefly, Plain Tiger, Common Crow, Common Grass Yellow, Monkey Puzzle and Blue Pansi, were displayed at the fair.
The fair also exhibited numerous butterfly photographs inside and outside of the university`s Zahir Rayhan auditorium.
The daylong fair featured a drawing competition for children, butterfly quiz, photography exhibition, butterfly exhibition, butterfly shape kite flying competition for children, butterfly race, debate competition and documentary exhibition on Butterfly and its habitant.