Speakers at a discussion in Habiganj yesterday urged the government as well as the forest officials to take initiative for creating awareness among the people to save vultures.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Forest Department in Sylhet organised the meeting at the forest office in Chunarughat upazila to observe the International Vulture Awareness Day-2016.

RFM Monirul Islam, divisional forest officer of Sylhet Forest Division, was in the chair.

Monirul said most of the vultures have virtually disappeared from Bangladesh, and the species faced the same fate in other South Asian countries also. He said the loss of habitat and food was the main reason behind the rapid disappearance of eco-friendly vultures from South Asia.

Another reason is that they feed on carcasses of cattle treated with toxic drugs, he added.

"We banned Diclofenac medicine in 2012 and submitted a proposal to ban Ketoprofen, which is used to fatten cattle," he said.

Dhaka region Conservator of Forests Abani Bhushon Thakur in his speech as the chief guest said awareness must be raised among the people, including school and college students, to save vultures. Rabies, anthrax and other deadly tropical diseases are on the rise due to the disappearance of vultures, he added.

Mihir Kumar Doe, divisional forest officer of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, told this correspondent that rabies, anthrax and other deadly tropical diseases would become endemic with the disappearance of vultures. It would also adversely affect Bangladesh's biodiversity.