By Khadiza Akter and Rukhsana Rumi

An awareness event and pledge-taking ceremony was organized at Haji Abdul Rahman High School in Kailati, Netrokona, by the Green Coalition Committee with support from BARCIK on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day. Students participated actively, pledging to protect biodiversity.

The event was held under the theme “Be Part of the Plan: Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”, with students displaying colorful banners, posters, and placards featuring images of existing and extinct species.

The chief guest was Amal Krishna Sarkar, president of the Green Coalition Committee and head teacher of Collectorate School. Other mentionable guests and participants included journalists Mirza Hriday Sagar and Tanvir Hayat Khan, writer and researcher Sohrab Uddin Akand, BARCIK regional coordinator Md. Ohidur Rahman, and other teachers and environmental activists.

Speakers at the event emphasized that unplanned and destructive development is posing biodiversity at risk. Climate change, deforestation, loss of wetlands, excessive use of chemicals, illegal wildlife hunting, the import of invasive species, and weak enforcement of environmental laws are all contributing to the alarming rate of species extinction.

Shongkor Mrong of BARCIK presented 15 examples of local biodiversity such as rivers, birds, frogs, earthworms, bees, butterflies, snails, and trees highlighting their ecological roles and interdependence.

In the final part of the event, students displayed banners and posters featuring images of Netrokona’s local biodiversity and pledged to protect nature.