DHAKA, Oct 29, 2021 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister
Md Shahab Uddin today called for stopping the hunting and killing of wild
creatures or animals.

  "Wild animals should be protected and wildlife trapping, killing and
hunting should be stopped to prevent deadly diseases like COVID-19," he said.

  The environment minister said while speaking virtually at the inaugural
function of "22nd National Conference and Annual General Meeting-2020 of the
Zoological Society of Bangladesh" as the chief guest from his official
residence here.

  Many zoonotic diseases such as rabies, Ebola virus (EBOV), Nipah virus,
swine flu and Avian influenza (Bird Flu) are spreading among the humans and
domestic animals due to massive destruction of forest and wildlife habitats,
he said.

   "If we become successful in conserving forests and wildlife with the
cooperation of all, we'll be able to be free from such diseases," he hoped.

   "The destruction of wildlife has reduced the distance between humans and
the wild creatures or animals," he said, adding that the Wildlife Crime
Control Unit (WCCU), a part of Bangladesh Forest Department, is working
relentlessly to curb wildlife poaching, trafficking and marketing.

  With Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Md
Akhtaruzzaman in the chair, the event was attended, among others, by Senior
Secretary of Local Government Division (LGD) Helal Uddin Ahmed, Chief
Conservator of Forests (CCF) of Forest Department Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury
,Chairman of Prokriti O Jibon Foundation Mukit Majumdar Babu and Managing
Director and CEO of ACI Agribusiness Dr FH Ansarey as special guests.