Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation : Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said that the government is working tirelessly and sincerely to save dolphins. The government has prepared a Dolphin Action Plan and declared nine dolphin sanctuaries to conserve the country’s dolphins. Seven dolphin conservation teams have been formed in the Sundarbans area. Appropriate training has been imparted to the concerned forest personnel. Dolphin conservation program is under implementation under SUFAL project. Monday He said that with dolphins, the water ecology is better and the growth of fish species increases. Therefore, dolphins should be protected to keep the river and aquatic biodiversity of the country good. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said these things in his speech as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized at the Forest Department on the occasion of International Freshwater Dolphin Day-2022 under the theme of “Protect the dolphins, protect the aquatic ecosystem”.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry Habibun Nahar, Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed and Additional Secretary Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Chairman of Nature and Life Foundation Mukit Majumdar Babu, Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh Rakibul Amin spoke as special guests in the discussion meeting held under the chairmanship of Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forest Department. . Thematic presentations were made by Divisional Forest Officer of Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle , Sylhet Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and Professor of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University Md Mustafa Feroze. Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Nature Reserve Imran Ahmed delivered the welcome speech. The Environment Minister said that in the Wildlife (Conservation and Safety) Act 2012, there is a provision of imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 lakh taka or both for killing whales or dolphins. This law is being implemented. A Marine Protected Area has been declared covering an area of 1,738 square kilometers of Swatch of No Ground area in the Bay of Bengal for the conservation of dolphins. In order to involve the people in dolphin conservation, various school-colleges and community-based dolphin awareness activities are being conducted, including organizing dolphin fairs. The forest minister said that the number of dolphins in the Sundarbans has increased significantly as a result of the government’s activities. In the three sanctuaries of Sundarbans – Dhangmari, Dudhmukhi and Chandpai – the growth rate is 55 per cent, which is serving as a milestone for dolphin conservation in the country. He said that it is not possible for the government, forest department or any organization alone to save the freshwater dolphins. Therefore, I call on everyone to commit to protect the dolphins of our country and work together.