Dhaka, Sept. 13 -- Mustafa Kamal Nannu, Tangail

Once a symbol of natural abundance in the wetlands of Tangail, Bangladesh's national flower-the Shapla (water lily)-is now fading fast due to adverse weather, shrinking water bodies, and unchecked human activities.

Red and white Shapla flowers, once common from monsoon through late autumn, are now hard to find. Excessive pond digging, pesticide use in agriculture, housing on farmland, and climate change have severely impacted their natural habitat.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), conservation is still possible if proper government action is taken. Otherwise, the next generation may only know Shapla from pictures in textbooks.

Even 15 years ago, canals, beels,...