Published: 12:21 AM, 13 August 2026
Govt, communities must unite to ensure elephants' safe future: Mintoo
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for coordinated efforts involving the government, local communities, forest workers, NGOs, students, researchers and media professionals to ensure a safe future for elephants.
He made the call at a discussion marking World Elephant Day, 2026 at the Forest Department headquarters in the capital on Wednesday.
The minister said protecting elephant habitats means protecting forests, biodiversity, the environment and ultimately the future of humans. He said elephant numbers in Bangladesh have declined due to habitat destruction, deforestation, poaching and wildlife crimes.
A 2015 survey recorded 268 resident wild elephants, 93 migratory elephants and 96 captive elephants in the country.
The government has taken an initiative to conduct another elephant census by 2027.
Mintoo said the government has formulated the Bangladesh Elephant Conservation Action Plan (2018-2027), identifying 40 priority activities for elephant conservation.
He said the government is also providing compensation to people affected by human-elephant conflicts. From 2012 to June 2026, families of 322 people killed, 169 injured people and 3,215 families affected by damage to homes and crops received around Tk 13.77 crore in compensation.
Under the 2021 compensation rules, families of deceased victims receive Tk 3 lakh, injured people up to Tk 1 lakh and up to Tk 50,000 is provided for property damage.
The minister instructed the Forest Department to ensure that affected people receive compensation as quickly as possible.
He said 159 Elephant Response Teams (ERTs) have so far been formed in elephant-prone areas to monitor elephant movements, issue early warnings and help reduce human-elephant conflicts safely.
"Local people's participation is our greatest strength in elephant conservation. Elephant conservation can never be sustainable without involving local communities," he said.
The international theme of this year's World Elephant Day is "Bringing the world together to help elephants," while its Bangla theme is "Bisw jure Oikya Gori, Hatir Jibon Roksha Kori."
Sherpur-3 MP Mahmudul Haque Rubel and Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Md Saimum Parvez addressed the event as special guests.
Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury chaired the programme.
