Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the tiger population in the world’s larest mangrove forest, Sundarbans,  is rising following measures taken by the government.  

“Actually, the Sundarbans is expanding. The number of tigers has risen,” she said replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP Sultana Nadira (Women Seat-15).

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The prime minister mentioned different steps taken by her government to save the Sundarbans and its biodiversity.

She said there were 106 tigers in the Sundarbans, according to the tiger census conducted through camera tracking in 2015. But the number rose at 114 as per the 2018 tiger census.

Sheikh Hasina said the numbers of trees and tigers have got increased due to the government’s measures (she mentioned in answer) and strengthening the forest management.

The reserve of carbon rose at 139 metric tonnes in 2019 from 106 metric tonnes in 2009, she said.

The Leader of the House said the Sundarbans is home for 334 species of plants, 175 species of algae, 13 species of orchids and 365 species of wildlife. 

Among the wildlife, there are 42 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles, 6 species of amphibians, 315 species of birds, 210 species of fish, 24 species of shrimps and 14 species of crabs, she said.

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She said the government has taken measures to make foresters a time-befitting force to protect trees and wildlife in the Sundarbans.

Considering the shortage of manpower of the forest department, an initiative is being implemented to create some more posts for the protection and preservation of the Sundarbans, said Sheikh Hasina.

Noting that the Sundarbans as a unique gift of nature for Bangladesh, she said it protects the country from the brunt of the natural disasters, including cyclones. “So, the present government is always sincere and determined to protect the forest and its biodiversity,” she added.

In reply to another question from ruling party MP Shahiduzzaman Sarker from Naogaon-2, Prime Minister said the government is going to enact a law to ease job uncertainty of journalists of both print and electronic media.

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She said journalists of both print and electronic media suffer from uncertainty about their job in their respective workplaces which is also a threat to free media.

To end this job uncertainty, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is going to enact ‘Ganomadyam Kormi (Terms of Service) Ain [Media Men (Terms of Service) Act], which is at the final stage for approval.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken a decision to give 45 per cent allowance to workers of all print media in the country.