Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin says the government is taking various steps to protect people's lives and property from wild elephant attacks. Directing Forest Department officials, he said solar fencing must be installed to control the elephants' movements, awareness programmes carried out and all other necessary measures taken.

People's lives must be saved at any cost, he said, and anyone who loses crops or suffers other damage must be compensated as quickly as possible under the rules.

The minister gave the instructions on Sunday 30 April while chairing a meeting at the ministry to review progress on the Annual Development Programme.

He also told Department of Environment officials to take more effective steps to raise public awareness to stop noise pollution in the country.

To curb global warming, wetlands must be protected at any cost and haors, baors, rivers and beels re-excavated, he said. He also directed that tree planting be stepped up across the country and that ongoing development work be carried out without compromising quality.

Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar, Secretary Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment and Development) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Department of Environment Director General Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury attended, along with heads of various departments and senior ministry officials.

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