Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chair Tarique Rahman on Saturday said that just as democracy safeguards human rights, protecting the ecosystem is essential to ensure the rights of domestic and wild animals.
鈥楢 state governed under democracy and with integrity is crucial for maintaining a safe and balanced ecosystem,鈥� he said while virtually addressing 鈥楢nimals and Life Fair鈥� organised by the Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.
鈥榃hen we talk about the safety of animals, I imagine that at this moment, many of us might have a thought: when the state sometimes fails to ensure human safety, we are now discussing the safety of animals,鈥� Tarique said.
The BNP acting chair explained that he believed that it was also important to recognise that, even if there are limitations or apparent failures in various areas with respect to ecosystem, all good initiatives must be maintained in daily practice and discussions.
Tarique said that he thought that the relationship between democracy and human rights is similar to the relationship between the ecosystems and the rights of domestic and wild animals.
If democracy and integrity are established in state politics, the ecosystem would indeed remain safe, he said.
Not only in Bangladesh but worldwide, Tarique said, many species are under threat due to human-induced factors such as population growth, climate change, unplanned urbanisation, river and wetland filling, deforestation, and increasing wildlife trafficking.
He said that if the BNP was given the opportunity to govern, the party would ensure that laws protecting domestic animals, wildlife, and the ecosystem are made timely and updated, including necessary amendments.
However, Tarique stressed, beyond legislation, awareness and concern for every citizen is crucial as the protection of biodiversity and wildlife safety is directly linked to human safety.
鈥楽afeguarding the rights of animals reflects the maturity and advanced morality of human society while the issue of animal rights is closely tied to the conservation of biodiversity, ecological balance, and ensuring a sustainable future for humanity,鈥� he said.
Tarique said that humans must preserve animals and protect their habitats for their own sake.
He also said that the loss of democratic political rights over the past one and a half decades might have promoted intolerance, overcoming it to embrace humanity while rejecting cruelty should be a pledge for all.
Tarique urged that the slogan for this journey should be: 鈥楽ave Lives, Protect Animals, and Make the Country a Safe Haven for All Living Beings.鈥�
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association convener Adnan Azad, Dainik Jugantor editor Abdul Hye Sikdar, and former Bangladesh national cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal Khan, among others, spoke at the event.
