Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary

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Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary
pdmaa setu bnypraannii abhy'aarnnyer ekaaNsh.jpg
Wildlife sanctuary beside Padma Bridge
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Location in Bangladesh
Location Faridpur District, Munshiganj District, Shariatpur District, Madaripur District, Bangladesh
Nearest city Faridpur and Munshiganj
Coordinates 23°26′39″N90°15′40″E / 23.4443°N 90.2610°E / 23.4443; 90.2610
Area11,772.608 hectares
Established26 November 2020
Governing body Bangladesh Forest Department

Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary is an important protected area in Bangladesh, stretching across the Padma River and its surrounding extensive wetlands and terrestrial areas in the south-central part of the country. [1] [2] [3] The sanctuary covers parts of Faridpur District, Munshiganj District, Shariatpur District, and Madaripur District. It was officially declared by the Government of Bangladesh on 26 November 2020 and published in the government gazette on the same day. [4] Its total area is 11,772.608 hectares (approximately 117.72 square kilometres), of which about three-fourths are wetlands and the remaining are terrestrial areas. [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Location and history

The sanctuary has been established across the wetlands along the banks of the Padma River [8] and adjacent lands, covering four districts — Faridpur, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, and Madaripur. Among nearby towns, Madaripur and Shariatpur are notable. [5] [9] [10] [11]

It was officially declared and gazetted on 26 November 2020. The total area of the sanctuary is 117.72 square kilometres, with about three-fourths being wetlands and the remaining one-fourth being land. It is divided into two zones: a core area of 81.19 square kilometres and a buffer area of 36.30 square kilometres. [12] [13] [14]

The river and surrounding areas near Padma Bridge have been rich in biodiversity since ancient times. Rare and endangered aquatic species such as the Ganges river dolphin and various native and migratory birds inhabit this area. The sanctuary aims to conserve this unique river-dependent ecosystem, protect wildlife habitats, and strengthen efforts to preserve local and global biodiversity. River course changes, sand extraction, pollution, and human-induced pressures pose significant threats to this ecosystem. [15] [16] [17]

Biodiversity

The Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife and plant species. A total of 25 species of mammals, 112 species of birds, 35 species of reptiles, 16 species of amphibians, 89 species of fish, 20 species of butterflies, and 29 species of mollusks and clams have been recorded. In addition, 312 species of plants and vines are found here. [18]

Notable mammals in the area include the Ganges river dolphin, fox, jackal, otter, fishing cat, jungle cat, mongoose, otter, and civet. The bird population comprises a variety of native and migratory species. [18] [19]

ClassSpecies
MammalsGanges river dolphin, fox, jackal, otter, fishing cat, jungle cat, mongoose, otter, civet
BirdsVarious native and migratory species [18]
ReptilesMonitor lizard, rat snake, spectacled cobra, checkered keelback, banded krait, lizard, garden lizard, water snakes, turtles, tortoises
Turtles and tortoisesGanges softshell turtle, Indian roofed turtle, river terrapin, yellow tortoise [18]

This rich biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Padma River and its adjacent areas.

Conservation challenges

Although the sanctuary was established for biodiversity conservation, sand extraction, river course changes, pollution, and human pressures are being seen as threats to the area. [15] [20]

References

  1. ↑ "Forest Department". bforest.gov.bd. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  2. ↑ "Environmental Action Plan — Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project". Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (Official). Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Ahmed, M. F.; Islam, M. R.; Sultana, S.; et al. (November 2022). "Environmental Safeguards in the Construction of Padma Bridge" (PDF). MIST International Journal of Science and Technology (MIJST) — Special Issue on Padma Bridge. 10. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 (Act No. XXX of 2012)" (PDF). FAOLEX Database. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 10 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 Rahman, Sadiqur (2022-06-24). "A sanctuary emerges to protect wildlife around Padma Bridge". The Business Standard. Archived from the original on 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  6. ↑ "No. 22.00.0000.067.45.005.20.152 — Regarding the declaration of "Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary" [Extraordinary Gazette]" (in Bengali). Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Government Press (Department of Printing and Publications). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Gazette PDF: Declaration of "Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary" (Extraordinary Gazette PDF)" (PDF) (in Bengali). Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Government Press. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  8. ↑ Tapu, Ahmed Humayun Kabir (2023-01-25). "The "mighty" Padma turns lifeless in the dry season". The Daily Star Bangla. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  9. ↑ "PADMA MULTIPURPOSE BRIDGE PROJECT: Environmental Assessment and Management (Consolidated)" (PDF). The World Bank. 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Bangladesh Dolphin Action Plan 2020–2030" (PDF). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of Bangladesh; UNDP. 2023. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  11. ↑ "Atlas on Ganges River Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphin of Bangladesh" (PDF). UNDP Bangladesh; MoEFCC. 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Abdur Rashid, Dr. Sheikh Mohammad (2022-07-25). "Why a wildlife sanctuary on Padma Bridge?". Bangla Vision (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  13. ↑ "বন্যপ্রাণী (সংরক্ষণ ও নিরাপত্তা) আইন, ২০১২ [Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012]". Laws of Bangladesh (in Bengali). Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 (Act No. XXX of 2012)" (PDF). FAOLEX Database. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 10 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Sand miners devouring Padma Bridge Wildlife Sanctuary". BVNEWS24. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  16. ↑ Sabrina Naz, Shams M. Galib, Mst. Tasnima Khatun (2024). "Ecological impacts on the distribution of Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in the lower Ganges, Bangladesh". Journal of Fisheries. 12 (2). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  17. ↑ Draft Environmental Impact Assessment: Bangladesh — Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (Annexed EIA) (PDF) (Report). Asian Development Bank. 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Dr. Bibhuti, Bhushan Mitra (2025-05-01). "Will the biodiversity of the Padma River disappear?". Kaler Kantho . Archived from the original on 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  19. ↑ "Padma bridge wildlife sanctuary: 2 years on, still confined to words". The Daily Star. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "পদ্মা সেতুতে পানির নিচে শব্দদূষণ নিয়ন্ত্রণ [Underwater noise control during Padma Bridge works]". Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 8 July 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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