By Happy Roy and Parbati Rani Singh from Netrakona

The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed today (22 May) in Rameshwarpur village under Swaramshia Union of Atpara Upazila in Netrokona. A unique biodiversity fair was organized by Green Coalition at the Agroecology Learning Center in Rameshwarpur to mark the day. Around 80 farmers both men and women from seven nearby villages participated in the event.

At the fair, the participating farmers displayed a variety of local food items, including native vegetables, uncultivated food plants, traditionally conserved seeds, processed food products, and seasonal fruits.

During the discussion segment, speakers emphasized that Bangladesh is a home to biodiversity, enriched with rivers, wetlands, forests, and wildlife. However, due to irresponsible human activities, nature is losing its balance, and many plant and animal species are on the edge of extinction.

Nasrin Akter, coordinator of the Agroecology Learning Center in Paharpur, said, “We all need to be aware to protect the environment. If awareness begins at home, we can gradually restore the balance of nature. Small practices such as reducing plastic use, planting trees, conserving rainwater can make a big difference.”

Elderly farmer Shamsuddin Mia from Rameshwarpur said, “In our time, such destruction was unheard of. We had fruit trees in our yards, fish swam in the paddy fields. Now people cut down those trees and plant foreign species that often harm us more than help. If we are not careful about nature now, nothing will remain for our future generations.”

Sayed Ahmad Khan Bacchu, farmer-scientist said, “All the products in our exhibition are local and chemical-free. But nowadays, we have become comfort-seeking and prefer to buy food from markets instead of growing it ourselves. Even when we do farm, we use harmful chemicals.’ He went on saying, this does not only contaminate the food but also pollutes the air. We need to change our habits now for the sake of our children’s future.”

At the end of the event, visitors visited the exhibition stalls, exchanged and distributed local agricultural materials, and saplings of native fruit and medicinal plants were distributed as tokens of appreciation to the stall owners.

This was not just a celebration it was a message, a call to action that will spread from village to village. The event called upon everyone to come together to protect biodiversity for the future of the planet.