‘Not true at all’: Rizwana debunks news of attack on her motorcade in Sherpur

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has debunked rumours regarding her motorcade coming under attack when she attended events in Sherpur today (26 May).

"This is not true at all," she told The Business Standard in the afternoon, stating that she heard about some conflict happening there, but it was unrelated to her visit.

"After I left from there, journalists and locals apparently got into a verbal altercation about why the journalists asked me questions regarding sand extraction. I have heard about it. I don't know [for sure]. I had passed Sherpur and reached Mymensingh [by then]...This is not true at all," the adviser said.

In a press statement, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change clarified that the news published by some media outlets was misleading and not based on facts.

Clarifying the situation, the ministry stated that Rizwana visited Sherpur as part of a pre-scheduled programme. 

After the visit, she spoke to journalists and later proceeded to the Madhutila range to visit a long-term plantation area.

"The entire programme was conducted peacefully. No untoward incident occurred during any of these events," the ministry release said.

'Govt working towards lasting solution to human-elephant conflict'

At the event, Rizwana said the government is working towards a permanent solution to the human-elephant conflict.

"We must be patient," she said while addressing a cheque distribution and exchange meeting held at Madhutila Ecopark in Sherpur, where compensation was handed over to victims of the human-elephant conflict.

The adviser stated, "Humans are occupying 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 further said, "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 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 Prof Dr Mohammad Ali Reza Khan.

Also present were Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Torafdar Mahmudur Rahman, Conservator of Forests of the Central Region ASM Zahid Uddin Akon, and 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.

At the event, the adviser handed over a total of Tk6 lakh to the families of two individuals killed by elephants, and Tk3.27 lakh to 15 families for crop and property damage. 

Additionally, she 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.