With only four staff members, the Habiganj wildlife office struggles to protect forests and respond to animal emergencies across five districts, raising concerns among conservationists and local communities.
The Habiganj office of the Bangladesh Forest Department’s Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division is struggling to protect wildlife and manage vast forests across five districts Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla and Netrakona due to severe manpower and resource shortages.
The office currently operates with only four staff members: a wildlife and nature conservation officer, a deputy ranger, a gardener and a night guard. Experts warn that such limited personnel significantly undermines wildlife conservation and emergency rescue operations across areas that include Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, the Haor wetlands and other critical forest patches.
“We often cannot respond quickly to emergencies due to staff shortages and lack of logistics,” said Sony Ahmed, a resident of Madhabpur upazila. “Tea workers, farmers and villagers are left to manage dangerous encounters with snakes, pythons or other wild animals on their own. This causes panic, raises injury risks and sometimes leads to retaliatory killings of wildlife.”
Officials say the manpower shortage, irregular budgets and lack of transport make it increasingly difficult to respond promptly to wildlife emergencies. While the Moulvibazar office reportedly has adequate staff, Habiganj has long been grappling with shortages.
Conservationists are urging urgent action.
“We do not receive regular government funding for wildlife rescue operations yet we are responsible for all activities across five districts amid acute staff shortages,” said Mahmud Hossain, in-charge deputy ranger of the Habiganj unit.
Activists Biswajit Paul, joint convener of volunteer group Pakhipremik Society, and Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon’s Habiganj unit, called on authorities to recruit adequate staff and provide proper logistics to enable effective operations.
Abul Kalam Azad, divisional forest officer for Habiganj and Moulvibazar, said, “Steps will be taken through the department to address the manpower crisis at the Habiganj office. We are making every effort to maintain service standards despite limited personnel.”
Experts warn that without immediate support both wildlife and local communities remain at risk. Bangladesh’s forests and wetlands are crucial for biodiversity, flood control and climate resilience making their protection vital not only locally but globally.
“These ecosystems are lifelines for millions of people,” said Biswajit Paul. “If the Habiganj unit cannot function properly the consequences for humans and wildlife alike could be devastating.”
