Silk cotton trees, Kodom trees and bamboo clusters at Mollan village in Chapainawabganj's Sadar upazila have become a paradise for Shamuk-khol birds.

The place, where hundreds of these birds twitter round the day, attracts a large number of visitors, including birdwatchers and bird lovers in the district and elsewhere.

Villagers say the number of Shamuk-khol, locally known as bok, is increasing every year as hunting of birds is "completely forbidden" there.

Expressing their resolve to protect the birds, they say they alert newcomers and visitors and prohibit them from hunting.

Shamuk-khol is an Asian openbill or Asian openbill stork. It is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. This distinctive stork is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is greyish white with glossy black wings and tail and the adults have a gap between the arched upper mandible and recurved lower mandible.

During a visit to the spot on Tuesday, 15km off the district headquarters, this correspondent saw over one thousand birds on the trees, while a few of them were flying in and out.

Several visitors were also seen there. Some of them were taking snaps.

The chirping of the birds in the evening makes the surrounding fascinating. During daytime, they leave the tree in groups and come back again gradually.

Akbar Ali, who came to visit the place, said it was really amazing to see hundreds of Shamuk-khol on the trees.

"The chirping of these birds soothes the mind, and the way they fly overhead adds some adventure to our rural life," he said.

Mollan village's resident Wahedul Islam and his four brothers started conserving the huge Shamuk-khol birds eight years ago as the birds lived near their houses.

"It's a matter of pride for us that people from far-flung areas come here to see the birds," he said.

Villagers said BGB men from Bakher Ali Border Observation Post (BOP) under BGB 9 Battalion in Chapainawabganj keep regular vigil.

The trust and bonding that these birds and villagers have developed is worth admiring.

Sundarpur Union Parishad Chairman Matiur Rahman, who pays regular visit to the area, urged the authorities concerned to declare the village a bird sanctuary.

ASG Mostofa, forest ranger of Chapainawabganj, said the department is keeping a watch on the birds and trying to conserve them.