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Environmental platforms launch united progs for animal, forest


Published : 27 Nov 2021 08:09 PM

A number of environmental organisations announced a united movement protesting the failure of the authorities concerned as well as the Forest Department in stopping deforestation and killing of wild animals, including elephants.    

The organisations under the banner ‘Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance’ have launched the programme.

As part of their programme, a daylong sit-in and cultural protest programme will be held in front of the Bon Bhaban (office of the Forest Department) at Agargaon in Dhaka on Sunday (November 28). The protest programme will begin at 9:00 am, says a press release.

During the daylong programme, various events, including songs, recitation, acting and elephant painting will be held there to express non-confidence to the Forest Department and also to create public awareness on wildlife conservation. However, the no-confidence motion will be submitted to the Forest Department at 2:00 pm and the painting exhibition will end at 5:00 pm.

A total 33 organisations have expressed solidarity with the programme. These organisations from the programme will raise their demand-- immediate action to ensure the safety of wildlife by ensuring accountability of forest officials.

The Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance arranged a virtual meeting on Friday evening (November 26) over preparation of the daylong programme. Representatives from different organisations joined the preparatory meeting. The speakers agreed to continue programmes for animal and forest conservation unitedly under the alliance’s banner.

Prof Dr Kamruzzaman Majumder, convener of the alliance and joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA), presided over the meeting, while journalist Kefayet Shakil moderated it. Architect Rakibul Haq Emil of People for Animal Welfare Foundation, Sumon Shams, founder president of Nongar Bangladesh, Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, secretary general of Save Our See, ocean explorer SM Atiqur Rahman, Nabil Ahmed, president of Green Fighting Movement, Ehsanul Haque Jasim, chairman of Nature Loving People (NLP), Mahfuzur Rahman, founder president of the Deep Ecology and Snake Rescue Foundation, Arafat Rahman, joint secretary of BBCF, and Saidul Islam, founder of Youth Platform for Sustainable Development (YPSD) joined the meeting, among others. 

Some other organisations that have expressed solidarity with the Sunday’s programme are Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Center for Atmospheric Pollution Study (CAPS) of Stamford University, Save the Environment Movement (POBA), Green Movement Bangladesh, Coastal Rescue Movement, Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, and Green Savers, Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Federation, Marine Journalists Network.

Some individuals also expressed solidarity with the programme. Among them, Prof Dr Md Jasim Uddin of Department of Botany at Dhaka University, Manjurul Kibria, coordinator of  Halda River Research Laboratory of Chittagong University, Prof Dr Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University, wildlife researcher Adnan Azad Asif, Actress Jaya Ahsan, wildlife photographer Fatim Hasan Khan, and Dr Nasir Uddin, team member of IUCN Asian Elephant Specialists.