The government is working towards a long-term and sustainable solution to the ongoing human-elephant conflict, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said on Monday.

“The government is not an adversary but a supporter. We must be patient and work together to resolve this crisis,” she said while speaking at a cheque distribution and exchange meeting held at Madhutila Ecopark in Sherpur.

“Humans are occupying the elephants' natural habitat, leading to a decrease in their food sources. Instead of planting eucalyptus and other foreign species, we must plant native trees that provide food for elephants,” she said. 

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 “The lives of elephants are as important as human lives. We must restore our forests. The government is not an adversary, but a supporter. If natural forests are destroyed, we too will suffer. We must replace commercial tree plantations with natural forests,” she added.

She instructed the district administration and forest department to jointly prepare an integrated action plan to resolve the conflict sustainably.

The event was presided over by Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury.

The keynote speaker was internationally renowned wildlife expert Professor Mohammad Ali Reza Khan.

Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Torafdar Mahmudur Rahman, Conservator of Forests of the Central Region ASM. Zahid Uddin Akon, Conservator of Forests for Wildlife and Nature Conservation Md Sanaullah Patwari, BGB Commander Lt. Col. Tanvir Hossain Majumder and ERT members Imtiaz Ali and Mohammad Hasmat Ali were present there. 

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She also handed over a total of Tk 6,00,000 to the families of two individuals killed by elephants, and Tk 3,27,000 to 15 families for crop and property damage.

Besies, the adviser distributed binoculars, torch lights, hand mics, whistles, and other essential gear among members of the Elephant Response Team (ERT).

Earlier, the adviser visited the Daudhara Garo Hills Tourist Center in Nalitabari upazila and the long-term plantation project under Madhutila Range for the fiscal year 2017–18.

Since 2014, compensation totaling Tk 9.1 million has been provided to the families of 45 deceased individuals, Tk 1.041 million to 34 injured persons, and Tk 16.884 million to 906 families for crop and property damage. In total, Tk 27.025 million has been disbursed to 985 affected individuals.