Effective steps to be taken to ensure safe coexistence of humans, elephants : Environment Minister
Staff Correspondent
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo stated that the government will implement effective and coordinated measures to ensure the safe coexistence of humans and elephants across the country.
The Minister delivered the statement as the chief guest at a discussion titled "Elephant Conservation: Existing Challenges and Way Forward," held at the Shailapropat Auditorium in the Parjatan Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka, on Saturday.
The discussion was jointly organized by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), IUCN Bangladesh, Creative Conservation Alliance, Arannayk Foundation, and Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo emphasized that elephant conservation extends beyond preserving population numbers to safeguarding habitats, traditional migration corridors, ecological balance, and the safety and livelihoods of local communities living near elephant ranges.
Highlighting statistical trends, the Environment Minister noted that wild elephants are concentrated primarily in Sherpur, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Chattogram, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and Cox's Bazar. He cited Forest Department data indicating that while Bangladesh had an estimated 268 wild elephants in 2016, a total of 146 elephants died between 2016 and 2025.
He attributed rising human-elephant conflict to habitat fragmentation, deforestation, food shortages, road and rail infrastructure expansion, climate change, and illegal electric fences.
Expressing concern over elephant poaching and trafficking in remote border areas of the CHT, Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo stressed the necessity of enhanced coordination between the Forest Department and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The discussion was chaired by former advisor and BELA Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, with Sherpur-2 MP Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury, ornithologist and wildlife expert Muhammad Ali Reza Khan, and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Additional Secretary (Admin) Shamima Begum attending as special guests alongside national and international researchers, conservationists, and legal experts.
