110 million people in Bangladesh live near rivers or water bodies. Still 70 percent of people in Bangladesh live in rural areas. 50 percent of the country’s working population earns its livelihood from agriculture. 1.5 million people are involved in harvesting fish from inland rivers, lakes and seas. Fisheries contribute 3.8 percent to the economy of Bangladesh and are a major source of protein in the diet of the people of Bangladesh. 2 percent of Bangladesh’s people work in forestry and 3 percent of the economy is added to this resource.
These natural resources enrich not only livelihood and economy but also biodiversity. The Biodiversity of Bangladesh is rare in the world because it is not only beautiful but also full of diversity. Five types of biodiversity can be observed in this small area. There are 260 species of fish in the rivers and reservoirs of Bangladesh and 401 species in the sea. 600-800 species of birds, 126 species of reptiles, 110 species of mammals, 3,000 to 6,000 species of plants and many more species are present in the biodiversity of Bangladesh. The life and livelihood of the people of Bangladesh has been developed by holding and nurturing this wide biodiversity.
Climate change should be viewed as an ‘epidemic’ and urgent action should be taken to save people from its negative effects. Bangladesh is not only home to 170 million people, 3.5 million indigenous people and 1.5 million Rohingya students, but it is home to many endangered animals, birds, fish, plants, various species of animals and various religious groups. If 26 percent of this country becomes saline, it will affect the entire world.
Source: https://www.prothomalo.com/opinion/column/wgg96f4ukt