State Minister warns against mismanagement as govt plans zoo upgrade

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Agriculture and Food Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said the government is working to upgrade the Bangladesh National Zoo in Mirpur, Dhaka, to international standards.

He made the remarks at a views-exchange meeting with officials at the Zoo Research, Education and Survey Centre of the Bangladesh National Zoo.

"We want to manage this zoo in a more organised manner. This is a promising sector. If we can move forward with the right plan, it is possible to turn the zoo into a profitable and visitor-friendly institution," he said.

He added, "We do not want to run the state as rulers; we want to fulfil our responsibilities as servants of the state. Our goal is to uphold the trust with which people elected us. We did not come here just to complete the formalities and leave."

After visiting the zoo, the state minister said he had visited the facility on the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and that steps would be taken to develop the National Zoo to international standards.

"There is no such entertainment facility in Dhaka city. When people get a holiday, they go to Cox's Bazar and other places in the country and abroad. So we came for a surprise visit to see whether there is any mismanagement in the zoo," he said.

He also said initiatives would be taken to recover about seven acres of land of the zoo that he said had been encroached upon. He directed officials to send detailed information and relevant documents to the ministry as soon as possible.

During the visit, he inspected several animal enclosures, treatment centres and the medicine store. He also spoke to officials and employees and inquired about animals' food, health management and overall care.

At the meeting, chaired by Dr Md Boyzar Rahman, director (administration) of the Department of Livestock Services, Director Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder highlighted the zoo's challenges and potential. A video documentary was also screened on proposed plans to upgrade the zoo to international standards.

Curator Dr Md Atiqur Rahman, Deputy Secretary Md Kamruzzaman of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Muhammad Shahadat Khandaker, veterinary surgeon Dr Md Waliur Rahman and other officials and employees were present.