Conserving the country's biodiversity is a constitutional obligation of every citizen of Bangladesh, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has said.

He said the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina added Article 18(A) to the constitution to give importance to biodiversity conservation. With growing awareness, people are now refraining from killing wildlife. For people to live well, animals must be allowed to live, he said.

The minister was speaking on Wednesday (27 September) at the third meeting of the national committee on biodiversity, held in the conference room of the environment ministry.

The meeting reviewed progress in implementing its decisions. It also decided to update the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan before the next UN biodiversity conference.

Ministry secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, additional secretary (development) Fahmida Khanam, Department of Environment director general Dr Abdul Hamid, chief conservator of forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury and senior officials of various ministries and departments were present.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.