Mithapukur National Park

 Mithapukur National Park is situated at Shalti Gopalpur of Mithapukur upazilla under Rangpur district. Its area is 19.028 hectare. It is 24 Kilometer away from Rangpur city and 8 Kilometer from Sathibari. It is managed by the Rangpur social forest division. Park forests are belonged to Reserved Forests(RF) and notable species are Sal plants. After deceleration of national park Ornamental plantation, Woodlot plantation, Medicinal plantation, Bamboo plantation and Cane plantation are raised in this area. Besides these many types wild animals and birds are seen here. A rest house is available in this park for tourists night stay.

Flowers of sal tree

PHOTO GALLARY OF KAPTAI NATIONAL PARK

Kaptai Lake of Bangladesh

Introduction:

Kaptai Lake is the largest man made artificial freshwater body in Bangladesh and in the South East Asia .Its total surface area is about 68,800 hectare and average water depth is about 9 meter and maximum depth of 32 meters.It is confined within Rangamati district and embraces the upazilas of Rangamati Sadar,Kaptai ,Nannerchar, Langudu, Baghaichari, Barkal, Jurachari and Belaichari. Since 1965 BFDC(Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation) managed this Lake for fish production.

Fish Diversity in the Kaptai Lake:

There are about 76 species of fish fauna found in Kaptai Lake.Out of 76 species, 68 species are indigenous and 8 species are alien.There are about 42 fish species are commercially harvested from this Lake such as:

• Rui(Labeo rohita)
• Catla(Catla catla)
• Mrigel(Cirrhinus mrigale)
• Black Rohu/Kalbasu(Labeo calbasu)
• Humped Featherback/Chital(Notopterus chitala)
• Gonia(Labeo goinus)
• Shark catfish(Wallago altu)
• Giant Snakehead(Channa marulius)
• Tilapia(Tilapia sp.)
• Indian River Shad/Chapila(Gudusia chapra)
• Ganga River-spart/Keski(Corica soborna)
• Pholi(Notopterus notopterus)
• Bacha(Entropiichthys vacha)
• Baim(Mastacembelus sp.)
• Grass Carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella) etc.

Extincted Fish from Kaptai Lake:

• Tor Mahseer(Tor tor)
• Pabdah Catfish(Ompok pabda)
• Pama(Pama pama)
• Gangetic Hairfin Anchovy(Setipinna phasa)
• Tele Gulusa(Local Name)
• ShadaGhonia(Local Name) etc.

Birds in the Kaptai Lake:Many birds are seen in the Kaptai Lake such as:

• Common Kingfisher(Alcedo atthis)
• White -breasted Waterhen(Amaurornis phoenicurus)
• Common Moorhen(Gallinula chloropus)
• Purple Swamphen(Porphyrio porphyrio)
• Marsh Sandpiper(Tringa stagnatilis)
• Bronje-winged Jacana(Metopidius indicus)
• Little Tern(Sterna albifrons)
• Oriental Dartar(Anhingo melanogaster)
• Great Cormorant(Phalacrocorax carbo)
• Little Cormorant(Phalacrocorax niger)
• Asian openbill(Anastomus oscitans)
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck(Dendrocynna bicolor) etc.

Contribution to Hydroelectricity:Prime objective of Kaptai Lake is Hydroelectric power generation.For this Kaptai Dam was constructed in 1961. There are five units exist in the Karnaphuly Hydroelectric Project for power generation.At present three units are under repaired.Generally 45 to 50 megawatt power generated from each unit.So power generation capacity is around 230 megawatt. 

Kaptai lake versus Forests:

An area of133.0 acres of Sitapahar Reserve(Kaptai National park) have been affected by the Karnaphulli Hydroelectric Project.The Lake made it easier for many illigally extract the forest resources , especially from places where communication was otherwise difficult and this led to denuding of the reserve forest of 126.91 sq km and of khasland and hilltop forest of 606.06 sq km(Nuruddin Mahmood and Abdul Hai).

Conclusion:

This is the commonest and cheapest means of communication and transport in Chittagong Hill Tracts.It has opened up about 400 miles of all weather navigable routes.It is harbor of many water bodies. It plays an important role to economy of Bangladesh. 

References:

Khan,M. Monirul H.2008.Protected Areas of Bangladesh,A GUIDE TO WILDLIFE. Nishorgo Program,Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Circle,Bangladesh Forest Department.

House Plants for Indoor Decoration

House plant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residence, hospitals and offices for purification of indoor air and for decorative purposes.
A short list of indoor plants are given below:

Indoor Plants

1. Tinkona Amrul(Oxalis triangularis)
2. Anthurium(Anthurium crystallinum)
3. Begonia(Begonia sp.)
4. Zebra Plant(Calathea zebrina)
5. Calathea Plant(Calathea picturata)
6. Calathea Plant(Calathea stromata)
7. Maurleza Calathea(Calathea makoyana)
8. Prayer plant(Calathea ornata)
9. Chain plant(Callisia navicularis)
10. Ribbon plant(Chlorophytum sp.)
11. Copper Leaf( Chrysothemis pulchella)
12. Spider Lily( Crinum asiaticum)
13. Dumb Cane(Dieffenbachia sp.)
14. Lucky Bamboo(Dracaena sanderiana)
15. Mony Plant( Epipremnum aureum)
16. Velvet Plant(Gynura aurantiaca)
17. Mosaic Plant(Fittonia sp.)
18. Pitcher Plant(Nepenthes sp.)
19. Dusty Miller(Jacobaea maritima)
20. Peperomia( Peperomia caperata)
21. Peace Lily(Spathiphyllum wallisii)
22. Arrowhead Plant(Syngonium podophyllum)
23. Purple Queen(Tradescantia pallida)
24. Lipstick Plant(Aeschynanthus lobbianus)
25. Gunpowder Plant(Pilea crassifolia) etc.

A short list of Birds available in the greater Faridpur

Photo: Black Hooded Oriole

Birds are the wonderful creation of Allah. More than 14 crore years ago, birds had been evolved in this universe.There are about 8500 types of bird seen in the world and in our country it is about 300. Here ,a list of birds which are available in the greater Faridpur (Faridpur, Rajbari, Gopalganj , Madaripur and Sariatpur). The greater Faridpur is the jurisdiction of Faridpur Social Forest Division.

                                                                                                                                                                             

1. Greater Coucal(Centropus sinensis)
2. House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
3. Common Myna(Acridotheres tritis)
4. Jungle Myna(Acridotheres fuscus)
5. Asian Pied Starling(Sturnus contra )
6. Chestnut Tailed Starling(Sturnus malabaricus)
7. Indian Tree Pie(Dendrocitta vagabunda)
8. Jungle Babbler( Turdoides striatus)
9. Common Hoopoe(Upupa epops)
10. Black Rumped Flameback(Dinopium bengalense)
11. Golden Oriole(Oriolus oriolus)
12. Black Hooded Oriole(Oriolus xanthornus)
13. Spotted Dove(Streptopelia chinensis)
14. Asian Koel(Eudynamys scolopacea)
15. Blue Throated Barbet( Megalaima asiatica)
16. Lineated Barbet ( Megalaima lineata)
17. Coppersmith Barbet(Megalaima haemacephala)
18. White Brested Waterhen(Amaurornis phoenicurus)
19. Red Whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus)
20. Red Vented Bulbul(Pycnonotus cafer) 
21. Tailor Bird(Orthotomus sutorius)
22. Magpie Robin(Copsyclus saularis)
23. White Throated Kingfisher(Halcyon smyrnensis) etc.

Forest dependent peoples are being benefited by the participatory Agar(Aquilaria agallocha)plantation in Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh

Name of the project:
Experimental participatory Agar plantation programme.

Implementation Year:
2007-2008,2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

Area allotted:
Kaptai Range:
45 hectare(2007-2008)
15 hectare(2008-2009)
50 hectare(2009-2010)
Karnaphuli Range:
13 hectare(2007-2008)

Total Number of participants:
271 nos.

Deed handing over date:
24/10/2010

Benefit sharing ratio:
Forest Department-----45%
Beneficiaries---------45%
Tree Farming Fund-----10%

Intermediary benefits:
Production from agricultural crops(Paddy,Turmeric,Ginger,Maize etc.)along with agar seedlings.

Benefits for Forest Department:
Tourism potentiality.
Harmonious position with adjoining forest dependent peoples.

Prepared by:
Md.Zahidur Rahman Miah,ACF,Katai National Park,Rangamati,Bangladesh.

Forest dependent peoples are being benefited by the participatory Agar plantation in Kaptai National Park