Sherpur: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the government is actively working to mitigate human-elephant conflicts. She emphasized this commitment at a cheque distribution ceremony held at Madhutila Ecopark in Sherpur, where compensation was awarded to victims affected by these conflicts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizwana highlighted that human encroachment on elephants' natural habitats is leading to a reduction in their food sources. She advocated for planting native trees instead of foreign species like eucalyptus to provide sustenance for elephants. Rizwana stressed the importance of valuing elephant lives as equally important as human lives and urged the restoration of natural forests over commercial tree plantations. She instructed the district administration and forest department to collaborate on an integrated action plan for sustainable conflict resolution.
The event was presided over by Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury and featured a keynote address by wildlife expert Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Reza Khan. Several officials, including Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Torafdar Mahmudur Rahman and other conservators, were present. During the event, Adviser Rizwana distributed a total of Taka 600,000 to families of two individuals killed by elephants and Taka 327,000 to 15 families for crop and property damage. Furthermore, essential gear such as binoculars and torch lights was distributed to Elephant Response Team members.
Earlier, Rizwana visited the Daudhara Garo Hills Tourist Center and the long-term plantation project under the Madhutila Range. Since 2014, the government has disbursed Taka 27.025 million to 985 affected individuals, providing compensation for fatalities, injuries, and property damage related to human-elephant conflicts.