Muazzem Ali for gearing up activities of JWG on conservation of Sundarbans

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DHAKA, Aug 21, 2017 (BSS) – Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali today underlined the need for gearing up the activities of Dhaka-New Delhi Joint Working Group (JWG) on conservation of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forests shared by the two neighbours.

“It is critical….for both the countries that we put our efforts together to protect the overall ecosystems of the Sundarbans,” he said.

The Bangladesh envoy made the remarks at the launch of ‘Vision Document’ of the Bangladesh-India Sundarbans Region Cooperative Initiative (BI-SRCI) at a function organized by Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think-tank, according to a message received here today from New Delhi.

Muazzem Ali said regular interactions at the JWG level hold the key to make the whole mechanism effective.

“Collaboration based on mutual trust and respect, share prosperity and responsibility could secure win-win outcome and equitable benefits for both countries and the region at large,” he added.

He referred to Bangladesh’s commitment to saving Royal Bengal Tigers, which inhabits only in the Sundarbans.

In this connection, he recalled what Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at the world’s first tiger summit in St. Petersburg in Russia in 2010.

“Bangladesh is determined to strive for doubling the number of wild tigers across their range by 2022. The tigers protect the Sundarbans, while Sundarbans saves tigers,” he quoted the Premier as saying at that summit.

The meeting was also addressed by Prof. Sugata Bose, member of Lok Sabha, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, distinguished fellow of ORF and J.M. Mauskar, advisor of OR, the message added.