Protect forests, wildlife: Environmentalists place 8 demands

Tiger - biodiversity

DHAKA, Nov 28 - Environmental activists today raised an eight-point demand to protect the country's forests and wildlife, including elephants.

They came with the demands at a daylong sit-in and cultural protest programme held in front of Bon Bhaban at Agargaon here, a press release said.

A total of 33 environmental organisations took part in the movement under the banner 'Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA)'.

The united platform launched the movement protesting the failure of the authorities concerned as well as the Forest Department in stopping deforestation and killing of wild animals.

During the daylong programme, various events, including human chain, songs, recitation, acting and elephant painting were held for creating mass awareness on wildlife conservation.

Prof Dr Kamruzzaman Majumder, convener of the BNCA and joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA), presided over the progrmame, while journalist Kefayet Shakil and Shams Sumon, founder president of Nongar Bangladesh, moderated it.

The eight-point demand of the Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA) includes formation of a probe body by experts to investigate the incidents of elephant killings and bringing the culprits under punishment after identifying them; restoring elephant habitat through eviction of occupants from the elephant corridor, formation of a neutral national commission with the people concerned to protect the country's forests and wildlife and no more allotment of forest land for new development projects.

Sharif Jamil, general secretary of BAPA; Mohammad Ejaj, chairman of River & Delta Research Centre; Prof Dr Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University; Yeasir Yeamin of Bangla Vision; Abdul Wahab, consultant of Asian Development Bank; Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, secretary general of Save Our Sea; Md Akhtarujjaman, executive director of Nature Loving People (NLP); Saidul Islam, founder of Youth Platform for Sustainable Development (YPSD); Ibnul Said Rana, chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation and Nabil Ahmed, president of Green Fighting Movement; also spoke on the occasion, among others. - BSS