Wildlife hunting and trafficking must be stopped to protect biodiversity: Rizwana

Wildlife hunting and trade must be controlled to protect biodiversity, Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (Nov 9).

“Small initiatives for environmental protection can lead to significant changes,” Rizwana said while speaking as chief guest at the national closing ceremony of the ‘Wildlife Olympiad’ held at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka.

During the programme, she called for the conservation of all wildlife, including tigers and elephants, and said deforestation must be stopped to protect existing forests.

A former student of the school and college, she shared several memories and said that an initiative would be taken to designate an old tree at the institution as a memorial tree.

Rizwana further highlighted the message of conservation spread through the Wildlife Olympiad and emphasized the vision for a green and beautiful Bangladesh for future generations.

She mentioned various measures taken to protect Bangladesh’s only coral island, St. Martin, and urged people to avoid the use of plastic bags and unnecessary honking and to save electricity by turning off fans and lights during the day to do.

Environment Minister Dr Farhina Ahmed, Chief Conservator of Forests Mrs Amir Hosain Chowdhury and Majeda Begum, Principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, were also present.

The event featured the Olympiad theme song and a musical drama, followed by a pledge against wildlife poaching.

All participating students received T-shirts, certificates and gift items, while the winners in each category received cash prizes of Tk50,000, Tk30,000 and Tk20,000 for first, second and third place respectively.

This year’s Olympiad attracted 107,000 students nationwide, registered both online and offline. The district rounds were held across the country with the Forest Department presenting prizes and certificates to the winners at the district level.

Before the event, Advisor Rizwana laid the foundation stone of a six-storey academic building and inaugurated an eight-storey ICT building at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.