Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has stressed the need for strengthening the transboundary collaboration with India for the conservation of tigers and leopards in Bangladesh as the two countries have shared tiger and leopard habitats.
“Considering the conservation importance of seven big cat species on earth and two critically endangered big cat species in Bangladesh, we in principle support the creation of the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) with a membership of the range of countries harbouring these species,” he said.
The minister said this at an event organised on the occasion of the International Conference on Tiger Conservation as part of 50 years of Project Tiger held on Sunday at Mysuru University in Mysuru, Karnataka, India after the inauguration of the event by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shahab Uddin said the Bangladesh government is working with the determination to double the number of wild tigers by achieving zero poaching target with the active participation of the local community.
It is a matter of hope that wild tiger numbers are starting to tick upward, he said, adding that the government has taken several remarkable initiatives for conserving the national animal and other wild species.
He said the Bangladesh government is implementing National Tiger Recovery Programme (2022 to 2034) and second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027) which include tiger survey; genetic study; SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans; capacity building programmes for frontline staff of the Forest Department as well as the local community to ensure protection and conservation of the Sundarbans and Bengal tiger.
The minister said a protocol was signed between Bangladesh and India for strengthening collaboration for the Conservation of Royal Bengal Tiger in the Sundarbans in 2011.
He said to mitigate the tiger-human conflict, the Bangladesh government has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming Village Tiger Response Team, Co-management Committee and Community Petrol Group.
Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules, 2021 has the provision to give compensation up to Tk 3 lakh for a person killed by tiger, he said.
Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been established under the Forest Department to combat illegal wildlife trade and to strengthen the capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Centre has been established which is working as a centre of excellence, Shahab said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) which will focus on the protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world such as tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah in collaboration with the countries concerned.
The environment and forest ministers of the countries harbouring these species were present on the occasion.
