Muktar Hossain from Harirampur, Manikganj

With the theme “Unity with Nature and Sustainable Development”, International Biodiversity Day 2025 was observed in Patgram Char of Lecharaganj Union, located in the remote char area of Harirampur Upazila in Manikganj. The event was jointly organized by the Agroecology Learning Center and Shotobari farmers, with support from organization BARCIK.

The celebration featured a biodiversity seed fair, a visit to natural habitats, and a community discussion titled “Celebrating Life in the Char: Seeds, Nature, and Coexistence.” Local farmers exhibited 30 varieties of native seeds, 15 types of safe vegetables, 20 varieties of medicinal plants, and various eco-friendly farming tools.

During the discussion, speakers said that native species of grasses like hogla, kaisha, nal-khagora, and animals like frogs, earthworms, birds, and bees are not just part of the ecosystem but serve essential roles in local livelihoods and environmental balance. They said, “Protecting these species and habitats is our responsibility, and we must also raise awareness, especially among the younger generation”.

Local farmers Lipi Begum, Sultana Begum, Ward Member Shahin Molla, student Setu Akter, and BARCIK program officers Muktar Hossain and Satyaranjan Saha also spoke at the event.

Participants visited the surrounding natural habitats and forests to observe the diverse flora and fauna still surviving in the char regions.

On this occasion, farmers and local communities raised their voices against the use and sale of destructive herbicides, especially those used to kill grasses. Holding placards and banners, they urged the Union Parishad and the Department of Agricultural Extension in Harirampur to take action to ban these harmful chemicals from local shops and farms.

The people of the char areas expressed one clear hope: that all plants and creatures of nature will continue to survive and that their protection will become a national priority.