Concerted effort needed to save elephants: Minister

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for a concerted effort, particularly the participation of local communities, to save elephants and protect their habitats.

The minister made these remarks as the chief guest at a discussion organised on the occasion of World Elephant Day 2026 at the conference room of the Forest Department in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Wednesday.

This year’s theme, “Bringing the world together to help elephants”, aims to raise public awareness about elephant and habitat conservation and ensure a safe future for elephants.

Mintoo said government initiatives alone are not enough. “Local community participation is the greatest strength in elephant conservation. Without involving them, elephant conservation can never be sustainable,” he added.

He said the government has identified 40 priority activities for elephant conservation and formed 159 Elephant Response Teams (ERTs) in elephant-inhabited areas to prevent elephant-human conflict.

The minister said the government has spent Tk13.77 crore since 2012 as compensation to the families of 322 people killed, 169 people injured and 3,215 families affected by damage to houses and crops.

According to a 2015 survey, Bangladesh had 268 resident wild elephants, 93 migratory wild elephants and 96 domesticated elephants. An initiative has been taken to conduct another elephant census by 2027.

Sherpur-3 lawmaker Mahmudul Haque Rubel, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Environment Dr Md Saimum Parvez, and acting Environment Secretary Dr Fahmida Khanam also spoke on the occasion.