DHAKA, Feb 13, 2022 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said a safari park is being set up at Lathitila aiming to conserve environment, forests, wildlife and biodiversity there.
 
He said as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park construction project has been taken up after conducting feasibility study and research.  
 
“If this safari park is built, Lathitila forest will be protected from illegal occupants,” the environment minister said while speaking as the chief guest at a national workshop at Agargaon here, a ministry press release said.
 
The Forest Department arranged the workshop to approve the proposed master plan and DPP for setting up the proposed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park at Lathitila in Juri upazila of Moulvibazar.
 
Shahab Uddin said the safari park is being constructed keeping in view the consensus of the people living in the area and considering the opinion of people.
 
He said the experience of the two previously built safari parks will be utilised here so that no more wildlife dies unintentionally.  
 
He said tourists from different parts of the country and abroad will be able to come to this safari park and gain knowledge about different species of local and foreign animals.
 
The minister said arrangements will be made to rehabilitate the families living illegally in the forest.
 
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the ministry Iqbal Abdullah Harun and Additional Secretary (Development) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik also spoke at the workshop with Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury in the chair.
 
Architect Ishtiaqe Zahir and project director Rezaul Karim Chowdhury presented the master plan of the safari park.  
 
In addition, representatives of different departments and agencies were, among others, present on the occasion.
 
In the proposed master plan, the total area of the safari park is 5,631 acres of which the area of the main safari park is 270 acres.  The construction of the Tk 870.90-crore safari park project is planned to be implemented during 2022 to 2026.