Dr Monirul appointed member of National Wildlife Commission

Professor Dr. Monirul H. Khan of the Zoology Department at Jahangirnagar University (JU), a prominent wildlife researcher in Bangladesh, has been nominated as a member of the newly formed National Wildlife Commission. The government recently constituted the 10-member commission to protect endangered wildlife, preserve natural habitats, and build public awareness across the country.

The announcement was made official through a gazette notification issued by Forest Branch-2 of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Thursday, July 23. The Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will serve as the chairperson of the commission, while the Conservator of Forests for Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle will act as the member secretary.

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Alongside Dr. Monirul H. Khan, the commission comprises key officials and experts, including the Chief Conservator of Forests, the Additional Secretary of Administration for the Environment Ministry, the Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, wildlife specialist Mohammad Ali Reza Khan, natural resource management specialist Ashraful Haque Nobel, a representative from IUCN Bangladesh, and Forest Department veterinary officer Hatem Sajjat Md. Zulkarnain.

According to the notification, the commission is tasked with providing guidance on securing and managing safe habitats for elephants and other wildlife species. Key responsibilities include advising on the recovery of illegally grabbed forest lands, implementing effective measures to conserve Sundarbans tigers, planning fruit-tree plantations to secure food sources for animals, and running public campaigns to foster safe human-wildlife coexistence.

Reflecting on his appointment, Professor Dr. Monirul H. Khan noted that wildlife in Bangladesh currently faces severe threats, with nearly 25 percent of native species at risk. He emphasized that establishing the National Wildlife Commission is a timely initiative that, if properly executed, will yield significant progress in safeguarding the nation's biodiversity and natural habitats.