Speakers stressed that safeguarding the Sundarbans and its biodiversity depends on recognising the knowledge, leadership and participation of Indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities in long-term tiger conservation.
A rally and a dialogue on human-tiger coexistence were held in Bangladesh’s southwestern Satkhira district on Wednesday to mark World Tiger Day 2026, with participants calling for Indigenous peoples and local communities to play a central role in protecting the species.
The programme, held under the theme “Securing the future of tigers by putting Indigenous peoples and local communities at the centre”, took place at 11:00 a.m. in Dantinakhali Mundapara of Burigoalini Union in Shyamnagar Upazila.
The event was jointly organised by the research organisation BARCIK, Green Coalition, Dantinakhali Forest-dependent Women’s Development Organisation, Sundarbans Youth Solidarity Team, SERIO and Shorub Youth Team.
The programme was chaired by Shefali Begum, president of the Forest-dependent Women’s Development Organisation, and moderated by Shahin Islam, BARCIK’s regional coordinator. The chief guest was Mostafa Jahid Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Munshiganj Forest Patrol Outpost under the Sundarbans West Forest Division.
Among those present were Green Coalition member Nimai Mondal, Village Tiger Response Team member Mohabbat Ali, Indigenous representative Anika Rani Munda, forest-dependent women and men, environmental activists, journalists, researchers, farmers and members of various youth organisations.
Mostafa Jahid Hossain said World Tiger Day had been observed since 2010.
“The Forest Department, the Village Tiger Response Team, local forest-dependent communities and Indigenous peoples, youth organisations and various non-governmental organisations have been working together to conserve tigers in the Sundarbans. Tiger conservation is not only about protecting a single species; it is closely linked to the biodiversity of the Sundarbans, the environment and the livelihoods and security of coastal communities. Long-term success in tiger conservation is not possible without the active participation of local communities,” he said.
Mohabbat Ali of the Village Tiger Response Team said the Sundarbans tiger was a source of national pride and one of the foundations of environmental balance.
“Alongside government initiatives, the responsible participation of local people must be ensured to conserve tigers,” he said.
Indigenous representative Anika Rani Munda said communities living beside the Sundarbans had a long history of coexisting with tigers.
“We do not see tigers with fear but with respect. If tigers survive, the Sundarbans will survive, and if the Sundarbans survive, our livelihoods will also remain protected. The knowledge, experience and participation of Indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities should be given greater importance in forest management and tiger conservation programmes,” she said.
Youth organiser Shamim Hossain said there was no alternative to the Sundarbans for protecting the coast and that the Royal Bengal Tiger was the forest’s lifeblood.
“Genuine forest workers, fishers and bawalis never harm tigers. Rather, dishonest poachers and trafficking networks pose the greatest threat to the species. Alongside strict enforcement of laws against tiger hunting and trafficking, local communities should be more actively involved in conservation efforts,” he said.
Speakers at the dialogue said climate change, deforestation, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict had become major challenges to the survival of tigers in the Sundarbans. They said the traditional knowledge, experience and leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities should be brought into the mainstream of conservation initiatives to address those challenges.
The programme concluded with participants pledging to protect the Sundarbans’ biodiversity, promote human-tiger coexistence and help build a safe and sustainable Sundarbans for future generations.
