Bangladesh is home to just 189 tigers, a population too small to ensure the long-term survival of the endangered species, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said on Wednesday as he called for stronger public awareness and conservation efforts.
Speaking to reporters after a rally organised by the Bangladesh National Zoo to mark International Tiger Day 2026, Tuku said protecting tigers requires not only government action but also greater public participation, particularly among younger generations.
"Tigers are one of the most important wildlife species in the world and an indispensable part of biodiversity," he said, stressing the need to foster a conservation mindset among the youth.
The state minister said the global tiger population has plummeted from around 100,000 a century ago to nearly 5,000 today, underscoring the growing threat facing the species.
"If we fail to take effective conservation measures now, the existence of this species will face an even greater crisis in the future," he warned.
According to Tuku, Bangladesh currently has 189 tigers. Of them, 124 live in the Sundarbans the country`s only natural tiger habitat while about 15 are kept at the Bangladesh National Zoo and another 50 are housed in zoos across the country.
Calling tigers a national asset, he said the government would continue taking steps to protect the endangered animal so that future generations can understand its ecological importance and the need for wildlife conservation.
Responding to a question about the tiger census and concerns over transparency, Tuku said the census is conducted by the Forest Department, not the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
He said the Forest Department carries out the census through its own established procedures while ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Following the programme, the state minister inaugurated a souvenir shop at the Bangladesh National Zoo.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary M Delwar Hossen, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services M Shahjaman Khan, Bangladesh National Zoo Director Dr M Shahinur Alam, Zoo Curator Dr M Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association Convener Adnan Azad, and officials from the ministry and the zoo attended the event.
