Bangladesh needs transboundary collaboration with India to conserve Bengal tigers by protecting shared habitats of the wild cat, said environment and forests minister Md Shahab Uddin at a regional conference.
"Bangladesh has a shared tiger and leopard habitat with India, so triggering the transboundary collaboration with India is an important tool for the conservation of tigers and leopards in Bangladesh."
Mr Shahab said this at the International Conference on Tiger Conservation organised as part of 50 years of 'Project Tiger' held at Mysuru University, Karnataka, on Sunday evening.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the event, disclosed an environment ministry statement on Monday.
"Considering the conservation importance of seven big cat species on earth and two critically endangered big cat species in Bangladesh, we in principle support the creation of the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) with a membership of the range of countries harbouring these species," said Mr Shahab.
Bangladesh is working with the determination to double the number of wild tigers by achieving a zero-poaching target with the active participation of the local community and the wild tiger numbers are starting to tick upward, according to the ministry.
Adoption of a new clause in the constitution to protect and improve biodiversity, wetland, forest and wildlife, 2-7 years' imprisonment and Tk 1.0 million in fines for tiger poachers as per the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act-2012 are some of the government initiatives, said the minister.
The Bangladesh government is implementing the National Tiger Recovery Program (2022 to 2034) and the second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027).
It includes tiger survey, genetic study, SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans, capacity-building programmes for frontline foresters and local community to ensure protection and conservation of the Sundarbans and tigers.
Mr Shahab said a protocol was signed between Bangladesh and India for strengthening collaboration for conserving Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans in 2011.
To mitigate tiger-human conflict, he said, "Our government has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming a village tiger response team, co-management committee and community petrol group."
The Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules-2021 has a provision to give compensation up to Tk 300,000 for persons killed by a tiger.
A wildlife crime control unit has been set up under forest department to combat illegal wildlife trade.
To strengthen capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Centre has been established which is working as a centre of excellence.
Mr Modi launched the IBCA which will focus on protection and conservation of tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah in collaboration with the countries concerned.
The environment and forest ministers of the range of countries harbouring these species were present there.
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