River dolphins, gavial (gharial) and turtles have almost been extinct from the rivers of the country. When the list of near extinct animals is increasing it is a rare opportunity to watch river dolphins and gavial (gharial) in the rivers of Bangladesh. In an interview with the BSS, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Wild Animal Trust and eminent geologist Professor Anwarul Islam said that narrowing of the rivers as well as falling in water tables in all the rivers, dumping of chemical wastes from the factories and trapping of riverine animals in the fishing nets are the reasons behind the extinction of these animals. Quoting international law, he said, fishermen should use specialised nets while fishing in the rivers so that river dolphins are not trapped in nets. "But this law is not in practice in Bangladesh," he added.. There is no alternative to political and social commitments for preserving the bio-diversity, Professor Anwarul said urging all political parties for inclusion of bio-diversity issue in their election manifesto ahead of the next general polls. He said that dolphins were seen in the country's rivers during late last century. It was amusing for the passengers of the river transports to see the dolphins diving in the waters, he added.. Although the dolphins can be seen in the Padma, the Meghna and the Jamuna, but no more available in the branch rivers. Gharials are also not available now, although they were seen taking sun bath on river banks one or two decades ago. Professor Dr Anwarul Islam said, two species of river dolphins of were available in rivers of Bangladesh, of them one is Ganges River Dolphin with long jaws. The other species is Irawaddy dolphin, featured with flat jaws. Both species of river dolphins were quite amusing. Of these, Ganges River Dolphins are on the verge of extinction, he said. According to zoologists, elephants and river dolphins are intelligent animals next to human beings. River dolphins mainly live in the rivers of northern part of Bangladesh. But the excessive fishing in the rivers by the fishermen caused adverse impact on the existence of dolphins. A total of 11 species of fishes have totally been extinct from the rivers of Bangladesh and if over exploitation of fish continues the existence of more species of fish could not be found in the near future, he feared. According to a statistics of the IUCN, the World Conservation Union, the number of river dolphins around the globe is not more than 5,000, of which two species of river dolphins are among the most endangered condition.