Dhaka: The Forest Department has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to bolster wildlife education, research, and conservation efforts across the country. This new program, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, marks the first instance of wildlife research grants being allocated to young researchers, university students, teachers, and forest department researchers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a total of TK 50 lakh will be distributed as grants this year. This announcement was made in a ministry press release, which highlighted the importance of this initiative in addressing the longstanding shortage of adequate funding for wildlife research in Bangladesh. The initiative has sparked significant interest and enthusiasm among students and researchers nationwide.
The selection process for the grants involved a daylong workshop organized at the Forest Department, where a total of 46 research proposals were submitted from various parts of the country. Out of these, 22 proposals were initially chosen, with students and researchers presenting their projects during the workshop. The financial assistance will be awarded based on the quality of the proposals, their significance at national and international levels, and the experience of the researchers.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hosain Chowdhury, renowned wildlife researcher and expert Dr. Mohammad Ali Reza Khan, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests Md Zahidul Kabir, and Conservator of Forests (Wildlife and Nature Conservation Unit) Md Sanaullah Patwari. Wildlife experts and teachers from various universities also participated in the workshop, underscoring the collaborative nature of this initiative aimed at advancing wildlife research and conservation in the country.