Enam Ul Haque

While Purbachal is a fancy name of a pummelled river-bed and uprooted Sal forest, all to extend the suburb for the capital’s burgeoning population, birds do not find the place unattractive because it is mostly uninhabited, unkempt and rather quiet, at least, for the time bein

For the first time in a generation, a rare Purple Heron was spotted near a lake in the capital. These birds of Bangladesh are seen only occasionally in the reed beds of large fresh-water lakes called haors.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the globally vulnerable Asian-Woolynecked stork had begun disappearing from East Bengal, now Bangladesh, after which the Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh termed this species of stork “a former visitor of Bangladesh”.

We couldn't believe our eyes when from amidst the green grass, a yellow bird, somewhat like a chicken, ran into the reeds of char Majardiyar near Rajshahi city.

A large flock of very rare and colourful birds has brightened the banks of Padma river near Rajshahi City recently. The birds called Painted Stork thronged the shallows and shoals before the birdwatchers and photographers of the city.

We may thankfully sing the old Christian hymn “Humbly we adore thee, pelican” now that a Spot-billed Pelican is visiting Bangladesh

Bangladesh now boasts a new bird and even more fortunately, it is often seen in Dhaka city. The bird is not a new arrival but has

A hunting party found a flock of five large birds feeding at the braided Jamuna river towards the end of December last year. For years

An elusive bird of the rock is now a confirmed resident of Rajshahi. And the name of the bird is “White-tailed Stonechat”.

A few pieces of wasteland that happen to be the breeding grounds for three species of “globally threatened” birds have

Can we bring the wild peafowls back to Bangladesh? Is it possible for the jostling pedestrians of the bustling capital

Rajshahi has an impressive bird-habitat quite unrivalled by any in other cities or towns. In the dry season, anyone can reach this delightful spot just by crossing the shallow Padma River quietly flowing along the outskirts of Rajshahi city. Locals call the place Majher Char, meaning the middle island. As the

Tangua haor is a mini ocean during monsoon. But in winter much of the water is gone and the haor turns into a maze of interconnected wetlands called beels. Once away from the muddy shores overgrown with reeds, one can see through the clear beel water a magnificent green carpet of plants at the bottom. This garden, hidden underneath the water, is visited by thousands of ducks during the winter months every year.

On this chilly Friday morning, you may enjoy a stroll through warm sand dunes without going far from the city centre. This little known white expanse of flat sand is on the other side of the Buriganga and incredibly close to city dwellers. From Dhaka Zero Point you may cycle to this lustrous area in less than 30 minutes on holidays. You take the Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge to cross the river and turn left to follow a narrow asphalt road, which leads you to a place called Sowarighat some two to three kilometres away. Stretches of fallow land are all around Sowarighat. A branch of Buriganga once flowed through it and people took boats to cross that rivulet. Now the rivulet is dead and you cross it walking over an earth dam.

On holidays Purbachal is a few minutes' ride from the northern residential areas of Dhaka city. But the contrast between the claustrophobic concrete jungle of Dhaka's residential areas and the expanse of Purbachal is as stark as you can imagine. You feel the difference in the air quality as soon as you leave the Airport Road, heading east for Purbachal. The wide new road that takes you there is still unnamed but is popularly called "300 Feet Road".

Nature lovers living in Dhaka City have very few places to go. A few green patches like Ramna Garden or Gulshan Park are always packed

Walking in Madhupur National Park is an activity I recommend to anyone weary of Dhaka and looking for a respite from it. The road to Madhupur is good albeit a little bumpy in places. From the capital you can reach there in about three hours. The forest department has an office at the entrance.