Extinct Bharardaho Beel becomes sanctuary for birds, fish, animals

The Bharardaho Beel, which has breathtaking natural beauty, has been re-excavated and is now a true sanctuary for migratory and extinct native birds, fish, animals, and insects.

With the help of a vast, verdant forest encircling the bill and the chirping of ordered migratory birds, the lost ecology has now been restored, producing breathtaking natural splendour that will captivate everyone.

On the boundaries of Badarganj municipality in Rangpur district, people of all ages visit the water body every day to take in the restored ecology and breathe in the better surroundings, unmatched vegetation, and natural beauty.
 
Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) of the Ministry of Agriculture has re-excavated the Beel under the ‘Expansion of irrigation in greater Rangpur district through best uses of surface water and conservation of rainwater (EIR) project ‘.
 
While talking to BSS, visitors said that they enjoy the wonderful greenery and chirping of migratory birds, their free movement in the water of the Beel and the breeze and animals and insects living there.
 
Housewife Minara Khatun, 30, of nearby Fire Service Para village, came there with her son Mirazuzzaman, 6, and nephews Kunjo Ahsan, 18, and Arian Ahsan, 11, from Gaibandha to enjoy the aesthetic beauty that attracts many visitors.

 “The forest created on the banks of the Beel, orderly flying of migratory birds in the air, their chirping and swimming on water have created a heart-cooling divine scene,” she said.
 
“My mind doesn’t want to go back home after coming here,” Minara said.
 
Kunjo Ahsan, also a college student, said unbelievable scenery has been created following re-excavation of the Bharardaho Beel and plantation of rare and extinct species of wood, fruit, medicinal and flower plants on its bank.

“I’m enthralled enjoying the beauty of everything available here, including the chirping guest birds, a botanical garden-like green nature and sprouting flowers,” Kunjo added.
 

Couple Mohibur Rahman, 33, and Farida Rahman, 28, of Nilphamari who came to the Beel with their son Mahbub, 7, and daughter Maria, 5, to enjoy the exclusive beauty of nature.
 
“It’s very difficult to take away eyes from the Bharardaho Beel with chirping of guest birds and varieties of rare species of plants on the surrounding banks with sight beholding scenes,” Farida said.
 
The Bharardaho Beel, which has breathtaking natural beauty, has been re-excavated and is now a true sanctuary for migratory and extinct native birds, fish, animals, and insects.

With the help of a vast, verdant forest encircling the bill and the chirping of ordered migratory birds, the lost ecology has now been restored, producing breathtaking natural splendour that will captivate everyone.

On the boundaries of Badarganj municipality in Rangpur district, people of all ages visit the water body every day to take in the restored ecology and breathe in the better surroundings, unmatched vegetation, and natural beauty.

Rafique, 14, Harun, 15, and Arman, 13, who are visiting school students from various villages in Badarganj upazila, stated that they regularly visit the Beel to take in the beauty of local and migratory birds, flowers, and various extinct animals and insects.

The re-excavation of the Bharardaho Beel and the planting of 3,500 trees of 213 rare and extinct species of wood, fruit, medicinal, and flower plants on its bank have produced an amazing scene, according to 45-year-old Beel caretaker Atiar Rahman.

Birds, fish, grasshoppers, butterflies, squirrels, bees, earthworms, chameleons, lizards, hornets, snakes, frogs, forest ants, mongoose, monitor lizards, foxes, rats, rabbits, mosquitoes, dung beetles, beetles, fireflies, and other animals have found refuge in the Beel.
 
“Hundreds of people are rushing there to enjoy the unbelievable loveliness of greenery, chirping guest birds and sprouting flowers,” Rahman said.

Director of the Riverine People and Professor of Begum Rokeya University Dr Tuhin Wadud said re-excavation of the Bharardaho Beel has turned it into a sanctuary for local species of extinct flora, fauna, fishes, local and migratory birds, insects and animals.

“The Beel continues reviving ecosystems at a time when drying-up of water bodies is threatening the existence of indigenous birds, small fishes, insects, small snails, algae, moss, aquatic plants and other stem-less watery plants and some animals,” he said.

He suggested the authorities concerned not lease the Beel to any private body and turn it into an Eco-Park cum botanical garden to ensure complete safety for all plants and living beings there to further improve ecosystems,” he said.

He was concerned that leasing the water body to local avaricious individuals for pisciculture or the establishment of a tourist attraction would disrupt the re-excavated Bharardaho Beel’s increasing appeal.

People are enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the re-excavated Bharardaho Beel with its greenery, chirping guest birds, and their polite flying, according to Md Habibur Rahman Khan, EIR Project Director and BMDA Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle.

“The project (2019-2025) aims at promoting agriculture and livelihoods making best use of conserved surface water, forestation and revive ecosystems and sanctuaries for indigenous species of extinct fishes, native birds, insects and animals,” he said.