Chattogram Bureau :
World Freshwater Dolphin Day
was observed in the country
recently. The day was celebrated
in different countries of the world including Bangladesh.
Freshwater dolphins are critically endangered animals.
In English, it is called ‘Ganges River Dolphin.’ Its scientific name is ‘Platanista gangetica’.
These dolphins have been listed on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 1996. Bangabandhu Heritage Halda River, Chattogram one of the country’s natural breeding grounds for freshwater tidal carp species, has seen an increase in the death of critically endangered dolphins due to various reasons, including damage to the propellers of illegal sand-carrying boats and dredgers, pollution and entrapment in prohibited nets.
This species is protected under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation and Security) Act. So, killing, selling and eating dolphins is a punishable crime. Still, endangered freshwater dolphins are dying one after another in Halda.
In the month of July this year, three dead dolphins were washed up in the Halda river and adjacent canals in a span of eight days.
According to the information found in the investigation, a total of 39 dolphins have died in the last five years from September 2017 till now. Except for one or two of these, almost all the dead dolphins were found to have injuries.
Several dolphins were also killed. Those concerned have expressed a lot of concern about this.