Environment adviser Rizwana releases peacocks, turtles at Madhupur park to revive Sal forest
Plantation of trees other than Sal, companion trees will not be allowed there
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (25 May) released 10 peacocks and six yellow-backed turtles at Madhupur National Park in Tangail's Dokhla.
The peacocks and turtles were released in the park as part of a project to revive Sal Forest and boost the breeding of the animals there.
The adviser said the peacocks have been brought from Gazipur Safari Park, and kept in a small area of the park. "They will be released into the forest once they are adapted to the environment."
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Renowned wildlife expert Prof Mohammad Ali Reza Khan said the peacocks have to be managed in the park for a year, and after that they will be released into the forest.
He said it takes one-and-a-half to two years for peacock chicks to grow up.
Only Sal trees will be allowed in the Sal forest
As the chief guest at an event celebrating "International Biodiversity Day 2025" at Madhupur National Park today, Adviser Rizwana said no more exotic trees will be allowed to be planted in the Madhupur Sal Forest.
"Only sal trees will be planted in the forest. Of every 100 trees, 70 will be Sal and 30 will be companion species, but no exotic trees will be allowed," she said at the event, which also included the inauguration of the Madhupur Sal Forest Restoration project.
Rizwana announced that Sal trees will be planted on 750 acres this year and on 6,610 acres over the next three years.
The adviser mentioned that some 129 cases filed by the Forest Department against the Garo community in Madhupur will be withdrawn, and clarified that cases involving forest land encroachment or assault on forest officials would not be withdrawn.
She also instructed the Forest Department so that the local communities are not harassed in any way.
Rizwana also asked the indigenous Garo community to abstain from cultivating pineapple or bananas using harmful pesticides and hormones that damage the Sal Forest.
She said the government will finalise decisions on forest land by June-July, after which a land settlement will be made for the Garos. "No one—rich or poor—will receive forest land plots. Landless or river erosion-affected people will be rehabilitated on khas land."
Before the discussion, the adviser launched the Sal forest restoration programme by planting 1,000 Sal saplings with local students, and later inaugurated a project, "Restoration of Madhupur Sal Forest through Community Participation", in Rajabari area.
Earlier in the day, she inaugurated a land fair and a campaign to plant five lakh trees at Tangail DC office premises.
