Govt takes measures to curb illegal wildlife trade

Says Shahab Uddin

Staff Correspondent: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said the government has taken a set of initiatives to curbthe illegal wildlife trade.
“Initiatives are being taken to expand and strengthen the government’sefforts to hold back the illegal wildlife trade. We must win the fightagainst the illegal wildlife trade with the help of all,” said Shahab Uddin.
The minister was addressing the inaugural function of the “Consultation Meeting on Strengthening Law Enforcement in combating Illegal Wildlife Trade” organized by the Forest Department and Wildlife Conservation Society at HotelPan Pacific Sonargaon yesterday.
Shahab Uddin said significant progress has been made under the leadershipof the Forest Department in strengthening the capacity of law enforcementagencies in detecting, identifying and prosecuting wildlife crimes.
A strategic plan would be formulated among the respective sectors tojointly curb the illegal trade in wildlife while initiatives will be taken toeffectively implement laws, programs and projects enacted to curb wildlifecrime, he said, adding “Strategies are being fixed to eliminate those who control the illegal wildlife trade”.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Md. Mostafa Kamal presided over the meeting while Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury and Jahangir Alam, Country Representative of the Wildlife Conservation Society also addressed the meet as special guests.