Sundarbans Day today
UNB
Sundarbans Day is being observed in the countrys costal districts today, aiming to raise awareness among people about the importance of protecting the worlds largest mangrove forest, reports UNB. The day is unofficially observed on February 14 every year since 2002 with various programmes. Different organisations in the coastal districts, including Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira, chalked out various programmes to mark the day though there has been no initiative from the government side to observe the day nationally, a demand of the local people which remained unfulfilled for the last 16 years.
The Sundarbans is the countrys only natural tiger habitat and a popular tourism spot due to its untamed attractive mangrove landscape. The government announced it as the reserve forest in 1878. It is the largest reserve forest for tigers and a place of unique ecosystem, flora and fauna. Rafiqul Islam Khokon, director of a private organaisation of Rupantor, said it was decided to observe February 14 as Sundarbans Day alongside Valentines Day at the Jatiya Sundarbans Conference
in 2001.
UNB Khulna correspondent reports the Forest Department, Sundarbans Academy, Khulna University, Winrock International, Wildteam, Khulna Press Club, SSEC and Rupantor have taken various programmes to mark the day.
The programmes include children art competition titled Sundarbans full of biodiversity will be preserved, debate competition, colourful rallies, discussions, and cultural programmes and award-giving ceremony.
