146 elephants died in Bangladesh between 2016 and 2025: Environment minister

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Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has said 146 elephants died in Bangladesh between 2016 and 2025, citing Forest Department data.

Speaking at a discussion on elephant conservation at Parjatan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon, Mintoo said wild elephants in Bangladesh are facing a serious crisis.

He said the country had an estimated 268 elephants in 2016, while shrinking habitats and movement corridors, deforestation, food shortages, roads and railways, climate change and electric traps are contributing to increasing human-elephant conflict.

Mintoo stressed that conserving elephants requires coordination among the Forest Department, law-enforcement agencies, local administration, infrastructure authorities, conservation organisations, researchers and local communities.

He also called for proper records and regular monitoring of captive elephants, including their licensing, numbers and physical condition. Allegations of elephant torture during training and their use in circuses and commercial activities should be addressed through appropriate legal and institutional processes, he said.

The minister expressed concern over elephant poaching and trafficking in remote border areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and called for stronger coordination between the Forest Department and Border Guard Bangladesh to improve surveillance.

He also stressed the need to consider traditional elephant routes when planning infrastructure such as border roads, ensuring safe passage for elephants and other large wildlife.

Mintoo said measures would be strengthened to protect elephant habitats and movement corridors, reduce human-elephant conflict through community engagement and identify conflict-prone areas for early warning systems.

The meeting was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, IUCN Bangladesh, the Creative Conservation Alliance, Arannayk and the Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation.