Butterfly Festival at JU Celebrates 15 Years of Environmental Awareness

Jackfruit Post Report

“Urle Akashe Projapiti, Prokriti Paye Notun Goti”—when butterflies take flight, nature finds a new rhythm. This spirited slogan comes alive every year across the lush green campus of Jahangirnagar University (JU), where the country’s only Butterfly Festival continues to inspire thousands.

Last Friday, the 15th edition of the festival began at 9 a.m. in front of the Zahir Raihan Auditorium. Around noon, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan formally inaugurated the event by releasing balloons, marking the beginning of a day-long celebration dedicated to nature and conservation.

What started as a small academic initiative has grown into one of the most anticipated annual environmental events in Bangladesh. Organized by the Entomology section of the Department of Zoology, the festival was launched in 2010 with the aim of promoting butterfly conservation and raising ecological awareness. Over the years, it has evolved into a vibrant platform that brings together students, researchers, nature enthusiasts, families, and children.

Every edition of the festival features a rich lineup of educational and interactive activities: children’s art competitions, guided tours of the Butterfly Park, and live butterfly displays. Visitors also enjoy photography exhibitions, and screenings of environmental documentaries.

The enthusiasm surrounding the festival is echoed by its regular visitors.

Ashis Ranjan Dey, entrepreneur and founder of the natural food platform Iposhora, has been attending for the past five years.

Speaking to Jackfruit Post, he said, “I have taken my child to this festival multiple times. I’ve encouraged many parents to do the same because butterflies are rarely seen in the city. Children can learn what a butterfly is, understand its diversity, and discover why it matters to nature.”

He added that the festival's proximity to Dhaka makes it especially important and urged the university to continue maintaining a butterfly- and bird-friendly environment on campus.

The driving force behind the festival is its chief initiator and convener, Professor Dr. Md. Monowar Hossain of the Department of Zoology. His vision has turned the JU campus into a hub of environmental learning centered on the delicate beauty of butterflies.

Once, nearly 120 species of butterflies were recorded on the campus. But climate change, habitat loss, and environmental degradation have caused a worrying decline. Festival organizers stress that butterflies are vital pollinators and crucial indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Preserving them means preserving biodiversity—and ultimately safeguarding nature itself.

For 15 years, JU’s Butterfly Festival has not only celebrated these winged wonders but has also nurtured a growing culture of conservation across the country. And as long as butterflies continue to grace the JU sky, the message of protecting the natural world will continue to take flight.

[AI-generated image used for representational purposes.]