Silvanus Lamin
BARCIK along with some local and occupational organizations in its four working areas arranged different programs that include flower fair, discussions, meetings, sharing sessions, rallies and human chains to mark the international biodiversity day which is observed every year on 22 May. The farmers, youths and other occupational organization have arranged flower fairs in most of the areas focusing on collecting that flowers which blossom during the summer season.
However, based on the theme of the international biological diversity day which is ‘Building a shared future for all life’ being facilitated by BARCIK the youths and members of occupational organizations created awareness among the community people to conserve biodiversity and value the importance of all life forms on this earth. Numbers of people, professionals, journalists, students, teachers and development activities participated in all of those event arranged by BARCIK and the local organizations. These people shared their views and concerns and urged all to protect the planet from being destroyed through conservation and nourishment of the exiting biological diversity.
Nature lover and farmer Ibrahim Mian from Manikgonj while participating in a summer flower fair arranged in Manikgonj to mark day said, ‘Flowers are very important part of the nature. Flowers are in our use for many purposes. There were many types of flowers in the past but today some of them have disappeared from the nature. Therefore, we should conserve and protect flowers and other flora.’ The youths and students in Netrakona collecting different summer flowers from the nature and displaying the collected naturally grown during summers vowed to protect birds and natural flowers in their day to day life.
On the other hand, participating in the summer fair arranged in Rajshahi a women named Mahmuda Begum (65) said, ‘Today, I realized there are many flowers in the nature and all these flowers are useful to us and other life forms. Therefore, we should take proper care of those flowers including other life forms. Meanwhile attending an event as chief guest Upazilla Nirabahi Officer (UNO) Shymanagar in Satkhira said, ‘We should take care of every life forms in order to proclaim our existence on this earth. Many life forms and diversity have disappeared from this world. Therefore, in order to save the planet we should conserve all types of biodiversity.’
The events and programs arranged to mark the international day of biological diversity were escorted with art competition, debate, quiz and other sorts of activities. Children and elders both found entertainment and awareness messages from the discussants of the events participating in those events.