Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has said the Bangladesh government is working successfully to conserve dolphins, and that thanks to its work the number of dolphins in the Sundarbans is rising significantly.

He said the growth rate of dolphins in the Dhangmari, Ghagramari and Chandpai sanctuaries of the Sundarbans is 55 per cent, a milestone for dolphin conservation in the country. Where Bangladesh's freshwater dolphin, known as the shushuk or Ganges dolphin, is most common in a river, fish are also found in greater numbers. Protecting dolphins makes it possible to protect river ecosystems too, so the government is working in every way to protect the freshwater dolphins in the country's rivers, he said.

He was speaking as chief guest on Saturday (24 October) at a webinar organised by the Forest Department by video conference to mark International Freshwater Dolphin Day 2020.

Deputy minister for environment, forest and climate change Begum Habibun Nahar, secretary Ziaul Hasan NDC and additional secretary (administration) Dr Md Billal Hossain spoke as special guests. Discussants included IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Bangladesh country representative Rakibul Amin, Jahangirnagar University professor Dr Md Abdul Aziz, and Prokriti O Jibon Foundation chairman Mukit Majumder Babu. Chief conservator of forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury chaired the webinar.

Outlining the government's initiatives, the minister said: "So far the government has declared nine dolphin sanctuaries in the country. A dolphin action plan and an atlas of the distribution of dolphins in the country have been prepared. Dolphins in the Halda river have been counted and a management plan drawn up. Community-based resource management plans have been prepared for the three dolphin sanctuaries of the Sundarbans. The Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act provides for up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 3 lakh, or both, for killing a dolphin, and for a repeat offence up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 5 lakh, or both."

Shahab Uddin said seven local dolphin conservation teams with 70 members have been formed to conserve dolphins in the Sundarbans, and conservation work is being carried out with their direct involvement. A thousand people who depend on fisheries near the Sundarbans dolphin sanctuaries have been trained and given financial support for alternative income. The dolphin conservation teams and forest staff concerned have been properly trained, and awareness activities on dolphins are being run in schools, colleges and communities, including dolphin fairs.

In response to the discussants' demand, the forest minister said the ministry would sincerely consider declaring the freshwater dolphin the national freshwater animal. The joint work of the Forest Department, WCS Bangladesh and IUCN on dolphin conservation will continue, he said.

Calling on people dedicated to protecting the country's nature and wildlife to work wholeheartedly for dolphins from their own positions, the minister added that only through everyone's combined efforts, including controlling river pollution, will the country succeed in conserving dolphins.

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