Govt to curb illegal wildlife trade: Shahab Uddin

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Wednesday said the government has taken a set of initiatives to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

“Initiatives are being taken to expand and strengthen the government’s efforts to hold back the illegal wildlife trade. We must win the fight against the illegal wildlife trade with the help of all,” said Shahab Uddin.

The minister was addressing the inaugural function of the “Consultation Meeting on Strengthening Law Enforcement in combating Illegal Wildlife Trade” organised by the Forest Department and Wildlife Conservation Society at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon.

Shahab Uddin said significant progress has been made under the leadership of the Forest Department in strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies in detecting, identifying and prosecuting wildlife crimes.

A strategic plan would be formulated among the respective sectors to jointly curb the illegal trade in wildlife while initiatives will be taken to effectively implement laws, programs and projects enacted to curb wildlife crime, he said, adding “Strategies are being fixed to eliminate those who control the illegal wildlife trade”.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Md. Mostafa Kamal presided over the meeting while Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury and Jahangir Alam, Country Representative of the Wildlife Conservation Society also addressed the meet as special guests.