Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has emphasized that the conservation of elephants requires the protection of their natural habitats. She stated that planting elephant-friendly trees, identifying and preserving elephant corridors, conducting surveys to determine the exact elephant population, and taking effective measures to reduce human-elephant conflict are now urgent priorities.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at a discussion organized on the occasion of World Elephant Day 2025 at the Forest Department headquarters (Bon Bhaban) on Wednesday, the Advisor further said that controlling captive elephants, raising awareness among rural communities, and ensuring sustainable habitats for elephants are essential. She announced that a special project has been undertaken for elephant conservation. Under this project, 350 hectares of elephant food plantations and 50 hectares of bamboo groves will be established, with adequate protection of the planted vegetation.
The Advisor also said that to mitigate human-elephant conflict, ecological boundary bio-fencing will be constructed, including 10 kilometers of live fencing with thorny plants such as cane, lemon, and jujube. In addition, “Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS), Elephant Response Teams (ERT), and Elephant Rescue Teams (ERT)” will be formed near Elephant Reserves to strengthen conservation activities. Sixteen tree towers will be built to monitor elephant movements, while two elephant rescue centers will be established—one at Gazipur Safari Park and the other at Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar.
She further informed that temporary shelters will be built in Sylhet, Chattogram, Rangamati, and Sherpur regions for treating injured elephants. Moreover, anthropogenic impacts and the effects of climate change on human-elephant conflict will be assessed, along with ethnographic surveys. A ten-acre elephant sanctuary will also be established at Chunati in Chattogram for the rehabilitation of domesticated elephants.
The event was presided over by Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests. Special guests included Md. Khayrul Hasan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr. Mohammad Ali Reza Khan, former Principal Wildlife Specialist at Dubai Safari Park and wildlife expert; Professor Dr. Md. Monirul H. Khan of the Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University; A.S.M. Zahir Uddin Akon, Conservator of Forests (Central Circle), Forest Department; and Dr. Mohammad Abdul Motaleb, Acting Executive Director of Arannayk Foundation and elephant specialist. A thematic presentation was delivered by Md. Shanaullah Patwary, Conservator of Forests (Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle).
