DACCA: The Sundarbans, famous for the majestic Bengal tigers and spotted deer, will be bereft of her wildlife in the next 20 years or so if India finally completed the construction of the Farakka Barrage. This was stated by the famous Pakistani hunter and writer, Mr Tahawar Ali Khan, while speaking at a select gathering at Hotel Inter-Continental here yesterday [April 7]. Mr Abdus Salam, editor “Pakistan Observer”, presided over the function.

Mr Khan said that the construction of the Farakka Barrage would not only bring disaster to the economy of the Province but also rob her rich forest wealth, Sundarbans, of her panoramic beauty, wildlife, fish wealth etc. He called upon the Word Wildlife Conservation Society to put pressure on India not to proceed with the Farakka project which, he said, would deal a death blow to the economic development of East Pakistan.

Mr Tahawar Ali Khan gave a vivid account of how much risk he had to take in killing a man-eater tiger at Baltkhali in Sundarbans a few days back. The tiger, he said, had devoured over 12 persons this year alone. Mr Anderson, Mr Daniel, Mr Hanif Adamjee and Mr Isak accompanied Mr Khan on his hunting trip. — Agency

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2020