Selling birds rampant at Sylhet fair
There is an old proverb “rath dekha o kola becha”, which in English would translate to “killing two birds with one stone”.
For Putai Miah, it was pretty much the case.
During most of the day, Putai, a trader from Fenchuganj near Hakaluki haor, sits around and enjoys the fair, but as night falls he gets extremely busy selling birds at the Rath-er Mela, a traditional fair in Sylhet city, organised every year to celebrate “Rathjatra”, a festival of the Hindu community.
Usually a fair is an opportunity for vendors to sell variety of goods like spices, sweets and other domestic products to attract visitors. But the Rath-er Mela in Lamabazar road area takes a different turn at night, where many traders flock with local and migratory birds, kept in cages.
“I've been selling birds for many years. Some even buy birds from me to please others, and also sent those to the capital as gifts,” he said, pointing at the cages full of birds kept in front of him.
These birds are caught at different water bodies including Hail, Tanguar and Hakaluki haor, he said.
“My son wanted a myna for a long time,” said Turab Ali of the city, who bought one for Tk 1,600. When asked, why he was buying a bird caught and sold illegally by the traders, he did not answer.
According to Climate-Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods and International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh, more than 50 species of migratory birds flock in the haor areas. With their arrivals, the traders and poachers also become active.
While visiting the fair around 9:00pm on Monday, this correspondent found that birds were being sold unabated there. Some traders were even seen selling birds throughout the day.
A pair of kalem was being sold at Tk 500-2,000, pair of shalik at Tk 300-700, parrot at Tk 700-3,000, myna at Tk 3,000-7,000, pair of ghughu at Tk 300-1,500 and migratory birds at Tk 700-30,000 each.
“Most of us do not sell to unidentified customers, said Shahnur, 48, a bird trader. “I collect the birds from the poachers and sell at fairs or to influential people,” he added. When asked, he refused to mention who were those influential people.
“I know selling birds is a crime. But I have to look after a family of six. This is a profitable business and not much capital is needed,” He said. Shahnur said he had to pay Tk 700 to Tk 1,200 per day for selling these birds and those who were selling at stalls pay around Tk 2,000 per day to the fair authorities.
“These birds are being sold in front of the law enforcement personnel. Even though the district police lines is next to the fair,” alleged Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, Sylhet chapter.
As per the Wildlife (Conservation) Act-2012, killing, poaching, selling and possessing of any wildlife is a punishable offence, he added.
Seeking anonymity, a police constable at the fair, said, “We are assigned to maintain law and order, not what people are selling.”
RFM Monirul Islam, divisional forest officer of the Sylhet Forest Division, told The Daily Star that they have requested the fair authorities to inform them about unscrupulous traders.
Abdul Khalik, an owner of Joy Enterprise who got the tender for this year's Rath Mela from the city corporation, said, “Different types of traders sell their products here. The law enforcers should look into the issue and take action.”
Catching and selling bids are illegal but it happens due to corruption; lack of awareness and enforcement of legal frameworks, said Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of Bapa.
Contacted, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kamrul Ahsan said, “Actions will be taken against the traders. We have also set up a camp to watch over any untoward incident.”
SCC Chief Executive Officer Enamul Habib said, “No one has ever complained to me regarding this. I will definitely look into the issue.”