The zoology department of Jahangirnagar University launched the country's first Butterfly Park and Research Centre as several hundred enthusiasts thronged the sixth butterfly fair on the campusyesterday. With the slogan, "Urley Akashe Projapoti, Prokriti Pay Notun Goti", the Butterfly Fair 2015 was held through display of live butterflies of different colours and patterns, a photography exhibition and competition, a drawing contest for children, butterfly identification competition, a cultural event and a documentary show, all centred around the beautiful insect.

The Butterfly Park and Research Centre was also inaugurated on the occasion.

Convener of the fair, Prof Monawar Hossain, said the centre would contribute to research and conservation of threatened species of butterflies of the country.

The zoology department organised the fair for the sixth time in association with Daffodil International University (DIU) , Prakriti O Jibon Foundation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and private television station Channel i.

Prof Monawar said there were around 304 species of butterflies in the country where JU had 125 species, and in the fair around 1,000 butterflies of 125 species of living butterflies were displayed, including plain tiger, common crow, plum Judy, dingy bush brown, common duffer.

The zoology department also awarded IUCN and a student of Chittagong University, Ibrahim Khalil Al Haider, for their contribution to researching and preserving butterflies.

JU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Abul Hossain inaugurated the fair.