Staff Correspondent

A total of five individuals and two institutions have been chosen for the 'Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation' medal in three categories, aiming to encourage national nature and wildlife conservationist organisations and individuals.

This decision was taken at the 37th meeting of the Wildlife Advisory Board held in the meeting room of the ministry under the chairmanship of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury to finalise the nominations for the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2023 and 2024 on Sunday.

For Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2023; Md. Abu Saeed of Dhaka and Md. Zahir Raihan of Jhenaidah jointly in the category of wildlife conservation officers, renowned researchers, scientists, wildlife conservationists and media workers or personalities; Md. Abdul Aziz, Prof of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University in the category of wildlife education and research and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) were selected in the category of an organisation dedicated to wildlife conservation.

For the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2024, Akash Koli Das of Pabna in the Wildlife Conservation Officer, Eminent Researcher, Scientist, Wildlife Conservationist and Media Worker or Personality category; Md. Kamrul Hasan, Prof of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University in the category of wildlife education and research and Naogaon's Joboibil Biodiversity Conservation and Social Welfare Organisation has been selected in the category of an organisation dedicated to wildlife conservation.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, “ The importance of wildlife conservation is now more than at any other time. Initiatives will be taken to utilise the experience of those who will get the award.”

He said the guidelines issued in 2012 for giving the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation will be updated. The minister urged everyone to come forward for wildlife conservation.

Secretary of the Ministry Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mokammel Hossain, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Environment Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury and other members of the committee were present, among others, in the meeting.

The awardee in each category of the 'Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation’ will be awarded cash equivalent to the market value of two (2) bhori (23.32 grams) of gold and an account payee cheque of Tk 50,000.