Sundarbans has 362 tigers

Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam told the House yesterday in replying to separate questions from Jamaat member Mia Golam Parwar and BNP member M Nurul Islam.

He said in a recent survey conducted with the assistance of UNDP, 1.546 pug marks were found in the Sundarbans assuming that the number of tigers would be more than the figure of 1993.

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He said three sanctuaries, Sundarbans East, Sundarbans West and Sundarbans South, are being created for conservation of tigers and other wild animals. Besides, rearing and breeding centres have also been established for deer and crocodiles at Karamjal along with sweet water ponds at different points of the Sundarbans to facilitate the wild animals to drink water.

He said a project has been taken to train field workers of the Sundarbans on bio-diversity conservation. He said that the Coast Guard and the Forest Department were working jointly for protecting bio-diversity and preventing illegal hunting there while steps had been taken to involve BDR with the efforts.

On the revenue income from the Sundarbans, Tariqul said the government has earned revenue of Tk 16. 67 crore till May this year since it took over the office. The revenue was over Tk 4.49 core in 2001-2002 fiscal, over Tk 7.33 crore in 2002-2003 and Tk 4.84 crore in 2003-2004, he added.

Replying a question of Jamaat lawmaker Azizur Rahman Chowdhury, he said constitution of a Forest Court is under process for quick disposal of the cases relating to timber pilferage in the Sundarbans.

He said during the last six months 23 officials and employees were suspended for their involvement in smuggling timbers and departmental actions taken against 257 people.