Staff Reporter :
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged all to embrace humanity and compassion by rejecting cruelty, noting that long-term deprivation of rights has made many intolerant.
“I feel that intolerance has grown in many of us due to the loss of democratic and political rights for over a decade and a half. Overcoming this, let us commit to humanity and reject cruelty,” he said.
Speaking virtually at a Gathering of Life and Animals organised by the Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, Tarique highlighted the link between human rights and the rights of other living beings.
Animal lovers from across the country joined the event with their pets-cats, dogs, horses and birds-drawing attention to the importance of compassion in protecting the ecosystem.
Tarique stressed that ensuring animal safety is vital not only for biodiversity but also for human well-being. He warned that many species face extinction due to human actions, citing the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger and declining elephant populations. “Around 390 species have already become extinct worldwide, largely due to human activities,” he noted.
He blamed population growth, climate change, unplanned urbanisation, deforestation, and wildlife trafficking for biodiversity loss. “Because of these factors, the habitats of wild animals, aquatic plants, and other creatures are under serious threat,” he said.
Tarique pledged that if BNP comes to power, it will strengthen wildlife protection laws. However, he emphasised that public awareness is more critical than regulations: “Without empathy in people’s hearts, laws alone cannot ensure the safety, food, and habitats of animals.”
He argued that protecting animal rights is a measure of human civilisation’s advancement, as it safeguards biodiversity, ecological balance, and humanity’s future. “When humans show compassion towards animals and secure safe habitats for them, it reflects the maturity and moral standards of society,” he said.
Acknowledging that some may see animal safety as secondary when human safety is at risk, Tarique countered that positive initiatives must continue despite limitations. He linked democracy and human rights to environmental integrity: “Just as democracy is tied to human rights, the ecosystem is tied to the rights of birds, animals, and wildlife.”
He concluded by urging everyone to follow the slogan: Save lives, save animals. Let the country be a safe haven for all living beings.
