Staff Reporter :
Environmental organisations have blamed the Forest Department for playing the dysfunctional role in stopping the killing of wild animals. The organisations have placed an eight-point demand to save the forest and wildlife animals, including elephants.
They placed the demands from a daylong sit-in and cultural protest programme held in front of the Bon Bhaban (office of the Forest Department) at Agargaon in Dhaka on Sunday.
A total of 33 environmental organisations took part in the movement under the banner ‘Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA)’. Many other individuals also expressed solidarity with the movement.
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 in front of the office of the Forest Department to express non-confidence to the department and also to create public awareness on wildlife conservation.
However, a delegation of the BNCA submitted the no-confidence motion to the Forest Department during the programme. Beginning at about 9:00 am, the daylong programme ended at about 5:00 pm through painting exhibition.
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 bring the culprits under punishment.
The elephant habitat must be brought back through evicting the occupants from the elephant corridor; formation of a neutral national commission with the people concerned to protect the country’s forests and wildlife animals. No more allotment of forest land for new development projects.
Dr Kamruzzaman Majumder said, “We are concerned over the recent incidents of wildlife killings and deforestation. We called upon the Forest Department to realize our demands in the interest of the country.”
