The sound of chirping is everywhere. Birds are flying in flocks. Some birds are again taking a bath with their heads bowed. This is a beautiful sight to behold. Like every year, this year too, Jambara Dighi in Madhyam Jahanpur village of Feni's Sharshadi Union is filled with the chirping of guest birds.
The entire village is now filled with the chirping of these birds, who have come in flocks from the icy cold country after traveling thousands of miles. The villagers are also taking utmost care of the guests. Bird lovers come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of this sight. Although the number of pankauri is less among the guest birds, the number of small wagtails and sandpipers is high.
When you go to the ground, you can see the birds playing water games, chirping, and sometimes flying in flocks in an aesthetic exercise, spreading their wings in the blue sky. Far from being bored, the villagers have taken utmost care of the guests. They are protecting them from hunting.
It is known that this migration area of migratory birds such as pankauri, sand duck, rangay peacock, and small sarali begins from the end of December. These guest birds coming from the cold region have established a nest in this pond as they are assured of a favorable environment and necessary food. Bird lovers say that about 10 species of guest birds have arrived in this pond this time. These birds stay in the pond from the end of December to February.
While the villagers do all their daily chores including bathing on one side of the pond, the birds have built their own kingdom on the other side. Hundreds of people come every day, but this does not bother the guest birds.
Local residents said that they have been seeing such arrival of birds in this pond since childhood. On the other hand, visitors who come to see the guest birds are also happy to hear such chirping sounds.
Local resident Abdul Wahab said, we have been seeing these birds coming to Jambara Dighi since childhood. They stay here in the winter season. They fly in flocks, which further enhances the beauty of our village.
Yakub Nabi, a sixty-year-old from Madhyam Jahanpur village, said, we, the villagers, do all our daily chores including bathing on one side of the pond. On the other side, the birds can build their kingdom.
Nur Uddin, a young man from the same village, said, everyone, including the youth of the village, is vigilant about the safety of the birds. Visitors are told not to disturb the birds.
Since it is next to the Dhaka-Chattagram highway, bird lovers come from far and wide to enjoy the beauty of the birds coming to this pond.
Hafiz Al Asad, Additional Tax Commissioner of the National Board of Revenue, said, "We already knew about the pond. It is quite fascinating to see the birds here. The locals here also take care of the birds. They feed them, no one bothers them. Such a scene is not seen often now. So I rushed from afar to see the birds."
A visitor named Mushfiq Hasan said, "We already know that the birds come here. That is why I came to see them with my parents. The chirping of birds cannot be heard in the hustle and bustle of the city. I enjoyed the guest birds very much when I came here."
On the other hand, Deputy Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md. Jasim Uddin is happy with the arrival of birds in his area. He has arranged food in the pond to provide hospitality to the birds. He has arranged a specific place for visitors to watch the birds.
Regarding the birds, he said, guest birds from different countries come to this Jambara pond in Madhyam Jahanpur. The locals are vigilant to ensure that no outsider or anyone else can hunt or disturb the birds. In addition, billboards have been festooned for awareness and there is a committee of locals who feed the birds and take care of them. A place has been arranged for outside visitors to watch the birds. Arrangements are also being made from the district administration to provide food. This is the tradition of Feni, we are working to protect it.
The distance from Feni city to Jambara Dighi in Madhyam Jahanpur village of Sharshadi Union, west of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, is 7 kilometers by road. From Medina Bus Stand on the city's trunk road to Jambara Dighi, the fare per person is 20 taka. The fare for a reserve is 20 taka. Also, this dighi can be reached from Feni Mahipal under the Fatehpur flyover.