The government is working on a zero tolerance policy to prevent the killing of elephants and attempt on other wildlife in the country, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Tuesday.
The environment minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a view exchange meeting with local administration and people's representatives on elephant conservation and resolving elephant and human conflict.
He handed over compensation checks at the event to the people affected by elephants in Satkania upazila of Chittagong district.
“In recent times, legal action has been taken against those involved in a number of heinous and brutal killings of wild elephants. The government is committed to ensuring that no more elephants, tigers or any other wildlife die unnecessarily,” added Mr Shahab.
Referring to various initiatives taken by the government for the conservation of elephants, the forest minister said that conventional roads and corridors for elephant movement are being restored and reforested.
Banana trees and other herbaceous plants will be cultivated for elephant feed, he continued.
Punishment of elephant slaughter and compensation for elephant victims is being provided along with creating public awareness. Arrangements are being made to train the staff of the concerned forest department on resolving the elephant-human conflict, returning the elephants to the forest when they enter the locality, techniques to make people aware, etc, he mentioned.
Illegal residents in the forest are being disconnected from illegal electricity and will continue to do so. With the cooperation of all, this endangered creature of the world must be given a chance to survive, the minister said.
Prof Dr Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi MP, Additional Secretary (Development) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik spoke at the event.
At the end of the ceremony, the family of one person killed in the elephant attack was given Tk 300,000 and the other two were given Tk 45,000 for crop damage.
Local people's representatives and people pledged to work to prevent elephant poaching.
